CECHOSLOVAKS 


THE  CECH  (BOHEMIAN) 

COMMUNITY  OF 

NEW  YORK 

BY 

THOMAS  CAPEK 


THE  SLOVAKS  IN  AMERICA 

BY 

THOMAS  CAPEK,  Jr. 

ASSISTED  BY 

REV.  LUDEVIT  A.  ENGLER 

REV.  C.  L.  ORBACH 

CLEMEN  r  IHRISKY 


THE  CECH  (BOHEMIAN) 

COMMUNITY  0^^ 

OF 

NEW  YORK 

WITH    INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS    ON 

THE  CECHOSLOVAKS  IN  THE 
UNITED  STATES 


By  THOMAS  CAPEK 

Author  of  "The  Cechs  (Bohemians)  in  America,"  etc. 


Published  by  the  Czechoslovak  Section  of  America's  Making,  Inc. 
NEW  YORK.  1921 


•1 


>     •  •   •  « 

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(       •   ••    •     a 

•  .  •    •• 


CONTENTS 
PART  I 

THE  CECHS 
Chapter  Page 

I.    Old   Country   Ideology   Transplanted   to 

the  New 5 

II.    The  Number,  Distribution  and  Occupa- 
tion of  Cechoslovaks 12 

III.  Distribution  According  to  States 14 

IV.  Distribution  According  to  Cities 16 

V.    The  Cech  Community  of  New  York 20 

VI.    Occupation 23 

VII.    Economic  Strength 36 

VIII.    The  Press 38 

IX.    Politics  and  First  Political  Demonstration. 43 

X.    The  Halls 49 

XI.    The  Churches 50 

XII.    The  "Cech  Library" 51 

XIII.    The  Neighborhood  Houses 52 

XIV.  Benevolent  and  Other  Organizations 53 

XV.  The  Artists^  Colony 56 

XVI.    The  Language  School 57 

XVII.    The  Pioneers 58 

PART  II 

THE  SLOVAKS 

Foreword 
Chapter  Page 

I.     Historical    Background    and    Causes    of 

Emigration 80 

II.     Statistical 83 

III.  Occupation 85 

IV.  Fraternal  Organizations  and  Churches.  ..88 
V.    The  Press ...91 

VI.     The  Banks 93 

3M165874 

n 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2008  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/cechbohemiancommOOcaperich 


PART  I 

THE   CECHS 
CHAPTER  I 

Old   Country  Ideology  Transplanted  to  the 

New 

If  we  analyze  the  currents  and  cross  currents  of 
the  national  life  of  the  Cechs,  we  shall  find  that 
every  great  movement  in  the  mother  country,  has 
produced  repercussion  among  the  nationals  in 
America,  that  it  synchronized  perfectly  with  like 
responsive  actions  here.  A  brief  survey  of  their 
principal  activities  proves  it. 

Slovanska  Lipa.  A  society  styling  itself  the 
Slovanskd  Lipa  (Slavic  Linden)  was  organized  in 
Prague  in  1848.  Its  program  was  national  and 
political — equal  rights  before  the  law  for  Cechs  and 
Germans,  Slavic  reciprocity,  constitutional  liberty. 
The  name  and  the  purpose  appealed  to  American 
Cechs  so  strongly  that  in  a  dozen  years  every  larger 
settlement  boasted  of  a  Lipa.  The  by-laws  of  the 
domestic  Lipas  provided  for  the  fostering  of  the 
mother  tongue,  founding  of  circulating  libraries, 
encouraging  choral  singing,  theatricals,  etc.  The 
American  Lipas  fully  justified  their  existence.  Later, 
when  the  advantages  of  personal  insurance  became 
more  fully  appreciated  several  of  the  Lipas  became 
charter  members  of  the  C.  S.  P.  S.  benevolent 
organization. 


The  Sokols.  The  Sokols  had  their  inception  also 
in  Prague,  in  1862.  It  is  a  mistake  to  think  that 
the  system  of  physical  training  as  practiced  by 
American  Sokols  is  patterned  after  that  of  the 
German  Turners.  Back  of  the  Cech  system,  as 
elaborated  by  Miroslav  Tyr§  (1832-84),  and  Jindfich 
Fiigner  (1822-65)  was  an  idea  which  aimed  higher 
than  the  mere  training  of  the  body.  The  Sokol  was 
required  to  be  like  the  Samurai  of  old  Japan — 
courageous,  faithful  to  duty,  lover  of  his  country. 
From  Bohemia  the  Sokol  ideology  spread  to  other 
Slavic  countries.  How  accurately  Tyr§  and  Fugner 
had  visualized  the  future  significance  of  this  body 
was  demonstrated  in  the  war  just  ended.  The 
Sokols  were  at  the  bottom  of  every  move  directed 
against  the  Hapsburg  monarchy. 

Choral  singing  and  amateur  theatricals.  No 
national  group  is  more  given  to  amateur  acting — 
producing  plays  in  the  national  tongue — than  the 
Cechs.  So  much  importance  is  attributed  to  these 
theatricals  that  local  historians  are  wont  to  register 
not  only  the  titles  of  plays  acted  in  this  or  that 
settlement,  but  likewise  the  names  of  the  talent 
impersonating  the  leading  roles.  Since  the  Civil 
War,  New  York  was  never  without  a  dramatic 
society — at  times  it  had  as  many  as  six.  Priests, 
editors,  farmers,  mechanics,  business  men,  domestics 
— immigrants  and  their  American-born  progeny — 
all  were  eager  to  taste  the  exhilaration  and  the  glory 
of  the  footlights.  Lately  amateur  impresarios  are 
compelled  to  lean  more  and  more  on  volunteers 
drawn  from  the  ranks  of  the  native  born;  in  the 
choral  societies,  it  is  no  secret,  Americans  are 
already  in  the  majority.  Amateur  stage  folk  and 
singers  combined,  have  even  invaded  the  field  of  light 
opera.    That  the  fondness  for  this  sort  of  amusement 

6 


has  been  brought  over  from  old  Bohemia  goes  with- 
out saying.  Under  the  Austrian  regime,  which  kept 
a  watchful  eye  over  the  doings  of  the  Cechs,  the 
stage,  the  amateur  stage  and  later,  when  actors  had 
been  trained  and  Cech  stock  companies  started  out 
on  their  itineraries  from  town  to  village,  the  profes- 
sional stage,  constituted  a  strong  link  in  the  chain 
of  national  revival. 

Opposition  to  theocracy.  One-half — according 
to  some  authorities  more  than  one-half — of  American 
Cechs  have  given  up  their  inherited  faith.  Some 
joined  other  religious  bodies,  but  the  bulk  of  the 
dissenters  do  not  affiliate  with  any  church.  One 
finds  nothing  quite  like  it  among  other  immigrants, 
certainly  not  among  American  Slavs.  What  is  the 
cause  of  this  religious  abstention?  Here  again,  to 
understand,  we  must  turn  back  to  the  fatherland  for 
explanation,  read  the  story  of  this  war-scarred 
country,  study  the  national  characteristics  of  the 
people. 

The  old-time  Cechs,  historians  tell  us,  were 
given  to  religious  meditation,  clinging  tenaciously 
to  their  beliefs.  For  faith  and  country  the  Hussites 
in  the  fifteenth  century  faced  huge  armies  of  cru- 
saders sent  to  crush  the  "heretics."  The  Church 
of  Bohemian  Brethren,  from  which  the  Moravians 
in  England  and  the  United  States  claim  descent, 
sprung  from  a  desire  of  its  founders  and  followers  to 
lead  purer  lives  in  strict  accord  with  the  precepts  of 
the  scriptures.  The  emigration  from  Bohemia  after 
1620,  following  the  victory  of  the  Hapsburgs  over 
the  Protestants,  was  of  a  religious  character.  Tens 
of  thousands  preferred  banishment  to  the  renuncia- 
tion of  their  faith.  The  most  merciless  persecution 
on  the  part  of  the  civil  and  ecclesiastic  authorities 
during   the   era   of  the   restoration   of  Catholicism 

7 


which  extended  from  1620  to  1781,  when  the  Patent 
of  Tolerance  was  issued,  could  not  wholly  eradicate 
the  "hidden  seed." 

In  past  ages  every  village  boasted  of  its 
"pfsmdk,"  a  wise  man,  who  was  versed  in  the 
"pismo,"  meaning  the  Bible  and  who  expounded  its 
lessons  to  the  villagers.  Prior  to  the  Battle  of 
White  Mountain  (1620),  the  Cechs  had  been  Prot- 
estants. By  1914,  ninety-six  per  cent,  (according 
to  Austrian  official  figures)  professed  the  Catholic 
faith.  That  such  a  fundamental  religious  re-making 
of  a  people  could  not  be  accompHshed  without  leaving 
a  mark  on  its  character  and  without  influencing  the 
direction  of  its  thought,  is  self-evident. 

At  present  Bohemia  again  finds  herself  in  the 
throes  of  a  religious  rebirth.  A  concerted  movement 
is  on  foot  (it  was  inaugurated  in  October,  1918,  when 
Cechoslovakia  rid  herself  of  the  Hapsburgs),  which 
can  be  expressed  in  three  words:  "Away  from 
Rome!"  Already  hundreds  of  thousands  have 
severed  their  connection  with  the  old  church  and 
have  joined  the  Cechoslovak  National  Church. 
The  self-same  propaganda,  "Away  from  Rome!" 
has  been  carried  on  in  Cech  America  for  more  than 
half  a  century.  The  result  is  as  stated  at  the  outset 
of  this  paragraph. 

Slavic  solidarity.  No  one  in  particular  propagated 
here  the  thought  of  closer  cultural  relations  with 
other  Slavs — Slovaks,  Russians,  Poles,  Serbo-Cro- 
ations — yet  the  idea  of  Slavic  reciprocity,  of  close 
comradeship,  was  popular  from  the  start.  Slavic 
"congresses"  had  been  called  and  societies  had  been 
organized  to  foster  and  encourage  Slavic  fraterniza- 
tion. The  first  body  of  men  to  volunteer  from 
Chicago  for  service  during  the  Civil  War  received 
the  name  Slavonian  Rifle  Company.    In  the  sixties, 

8 


as  stated  elsewhere,  settlement  after  settlement 
"planted"  its  Slovanska  Lipa  society;  other  organi- 
zations bore  the  names  of  Slavic  Union,  Slavic 
Reciprocity,  Slavic  Alliance,  etc.  The  first  news- 
paper was  called  "Slowan  Amerikansky"  (American 
Slav).  In  the  preface  the  publisher-editor  (Frank 
Korizek)  addressed  himself  "to  the  beloved  Slavic 
nation,"  and  he  deplored  the  fact  that  that  nation 
"Hved  so  disunited  in  the  New  World."  By  "Slavic 
nation"  Korizek  of  course  meant  his  countrymen, 
the  Cechs  only,  because  no  other  Slavs  (except  a 
handful  of  Poles),  hved  at  that  time  (1861)  in  the 
United  States. 

A  farming  element  in  Wisconsin  became  discon- 
tented with  conditions  in  America — aggravated  as 
these  were  by  the  bitterness  of  civil  war — and  a  plan 
was  conceived  to  move  American  Cechs  to  the 
province  of  Amur  in  Asiatic  Russia.  Two  men  were 
chosen  to  go  to  Russia  to  work  there  to  the  end 
"that  a  foundation  might  be  laid  for  a  new  fatherland 
in  Slavic  Russia."'  Fortunately,  this  migration 
never  took  place;  one  member  of  the  committee  of 
investigation  (Barta)  returned  to  Wisconsin,  dis- 
gusted with  the  red  tape  methods  of  the  Czar's 
government.  The  other  (Mracek)  stayed  in  Russia 
and  died  there. 

During  the  Polish  rebellion  of  1863,  the  formula 
of  Slavic  fraternization  was  given  a  practical  try- 
out — and  was  found  wanting.  In  much  the  same 
way  as  in  Bohemia,  the  Cechs  in  America  were 
divided  in  their  sympathies  on  the  Russo-Polish 
struggle.  One  faction,  numerically  the  stronger, 
sided  with  the  Poles;  there  were  those,  however, 
who  loudly  defended   the  course  of  the  Russians. 


'The  Slavic,"  December,  1861. 

9 


The  attitude  of  the  Cechs,  let  it  be  said,  pleased 
neither  the  Russians  nor  the  Poles. 

The  fraternization  between  New  York  Poles  and 
Cechs  manifesting  itself  in  invitations  to  and  presence 
at  balls,  picnics  and  meetings,  came  to  an  abrupt 
end  when  the  Grand  Duke  Alexis  of  Russia  came  to 
America  in  1871,  and  again  in  1877.  The  Cechs  of 
New  York  and  Chicago  sent  deputations  **to  greet 
our  brother  Slav."  This  "act  of  perfidy"  on  the 
part  of  the  Cechs  cut  the  Poles  to  the  quick;  never 
after  that  did  they  invite  the  Cechs  to  their  social 
affairs  nor  asked  them  to  take  part  in  anything  at 
which  the  Russians  were  present.  With  Russians 
left  out,  Slavic  accord,  was,  of  course,  a  nullity;  with 
Russians  and  Poles  in,  co-operation  was  out  of  the 
question. 

During  the  Russo-Japanese  war,  the  Slavic 
Alliance  of  New  York  made  an  effort  to  bring  under 
one  roof  the  leading  men  and  women  of  Slavic 
blood.  But  because  the  Russians  came  in,  it  was 
a  sufficient  reason  for  the  Poles  to  stay  out  and  they 
did  stay  out. 

Sixty  years  of  fraternization  with  American 
Slavs,  sixty  years  of  inspiring  speeches  at  Slavic 
banquets — what  are  the  evidences  of  constructive 
work  ?  Almost  none.  True,  the  Sokols  have  carried 
the  Sokol  ideology  in  the  ranks  of  some  of  the  Slavs 
.  .  .  .Occasionally  joint  public  protests  had  been  ar- 
ranged and  held  ...  .As  for  instance,  when  the  New 
York  Slavs  met  in  Carnegie  Hall,  December  14,  1912, 
to  "protest  against  Austria-Hungary's  unjustified  in- 
terference with  the  Balkan  Slavs." 

Ask  a  New  York  Cech  in  what  part  of  the  City 
the  Serbo-Croations  live.  He  does  not  know.  In- 
quire of  a  Pole   where   the   Cech  quarter  is  located 

10 


and  the  chances  are  he  will  have  to  ask  a  police- 
man to  direct  him  to  it.  In  Chicago,  Poles  and 
Cechs  professing  the  same  faith  bury  their  dead 
in  a  common  cemetery.  In  several  instances  these 
two  worship  in  the  same  churches.  But  the  tie 
that  binds  in  this  case  is  not  racial  kinship,  but 
religion. 


11 


CHAPTER   II 

The  Number,  Distribution  and  Occupation  of 
Cechoslovaks 

As  a  country  of  origin  Austria  first  appeared  in 
the  United  States  official  census  in  1860;  Bohemia 
in  1870.  The  (13th)  census  of  1910  has  ascertained 
539,392  persons  of  Bohemian  and  Moravian  stock. 
Precisely  how  many  American  Slovaks  there  are 
and  where  they  live  we  shall  learn  for  the  first  time 
when  the  results  of  the  1920  census  are  made  public. 
The  figures  of  the  previous  censuses  were  not  de- 
pendable for  the  reason  that  census  gatherers  in 
many  instances  classified  the  Slovaks  as  Hungarians. 
Private  estimates  by  Slovak  publicists  and  the 
official  Washington  returns  varied  greatly;  private 
estimates,  as  a  general  rule,  being  invariably  much 
higher.  Even  the  Cechs  contended  in  the  past  that 
the  census  man  has  treated  them  unfairly;  that  at 
each  decennial  count  he  caused  thousands  of  their 
compatriots  to  disappear  in  the  column  set  aside  for 
Austrians. 

As  a  Cechoslovak  state,  Pennsylvania  leads  in 
1920  all,  with  a  population  of  67,577.  One  can  easily 
guess  how  much  of  this  total  is  purely  Slovak  and 
how  much  the  share  of  the  Cechs.  According  to  the 
census  of  1910,  the  Cechs  in  Pennsylvania  ag- 
gregated 13,945.  Of  this,  3,453  lived  in  Pittsburgh 
(largely  in  Allegheny),  and   1,652  in  Philadelphia. 

Next  after  Pennsylvania  comes  Illinois,  with 
66,463.  Obviously,  this  is  Chicago  and  its  suburbs, 
for  outside  of  the  city  not  many  are  known  to  reside. 

12 


Chicago  is  the  metropolis  of  the  Cechs  and  has  been 
such  since  1870.  It  is  one  of  the  three  leading  cities 
with  strong  Cech  and  Slovak  centres.  New  York  and 
Cleveland  are  the  other  two. 

New  Jersey's  16,194  is  more  than  two-thirds 
Slovak. 

On  the  other  hand,  Iowa's  9,148,  Kansas'  3,466, 
Minnesota's  12,538,  Nebraska's  15,817,  Texas'  12,809, 
Wisconsin's  19,785  (except  Milwaukee,  which  is 
mixed,  Cech  and  Slovak),  continue  to  be  preponder- 
antly Cech.  When  the  census  is  published  in  its 
entirety  we  shall  be  able  to  appraise  more  accurately 
the  numerical  strength  of  the  Cechoslovak  stock, 
both  foreign  and  native  born. 


13 


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CHAPTER  IV 

Distribution  According  to  Cities 

Austrians  in  selected  cities 
1860^ 

Males  Females 

St.  Louis 1,367  1,173 

New  York 942  749 

Chicago 486  441 

Philadelphia 208  123 

Cincinnati 196  146 

New  Orleans 167  32 

Baltimore 68  44 

Boston. 27  16 

Bohemians  {and  Moravians)  in  selected  cities 

1870^ 

Chicago 6,277 

St.  Louis 2,652 

New  York 1,487 

Milwaukee 1,435 

Cleveland 786 

Baltimore 766 

Detroit 537 

Allegheny 324 

Newark 184 

Cincinnati 123 

Philadelphia 101 

Population  of  the  U.  S.  in  1860,  compiled  from  the  original 
returns  of  the  Ei§;hth  U.  S.  census  under  the  direction  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Interior,  Washington,  1864. 

*Ninth  U.  S.  census,  June  1,  1870.  From  the  Foreign  Born 
population  of  Fifty  Principal  Cities  according  to  Place  of  Birth 
among  the  Principal  Foreign  Countries.  Table  XX.  As  a  country 
of  origin  Bohemia  first  appears  in  this  census. 

IG 


Bohemians  {and  Moravians)  in  selected  cities 
1880^ 

Chicago 11,887 

New  York 8,093 

Cleveland 5,433 

St.  Louis 2,456 

Milwaukee 1,537 

Baltimore 1,129 

St.  Paul 701 

Bohemians  {and  Moravians)  in  selected  cities 
1890^ 

Chicago 41,014 

Cleveland 17,502 

New  York 11,868 

St.  Louis 4,400 

Omaha 3,866 

Milwaukee 2,493 

St.  Paul 2,218 

Baltimore 2,130 

Bohemians  {and  Moravians)  in  selected  cities 

1900' 

Chicago 72,862 

Cleveland 28,385 

New  York 26,809 

St.  Louis 5,503 

Cedar  Rapids 4,646 

Baltimore 4,522 

Omaha 3,997 

iTenth  U.  S._  census,  June  1,  1880.  Table  XIII,  showing  the 
nativities  of  foreign-born  population. 

^Eleventh  U.  S.  census,  June  1,  1890.  Table  XXXVII. 
White  persons  having  both  parents  born  in  specified  countries  or  of 
mixed  foreign  parentage.  >?».  ■ 

^Twelfth  U.  S.  census,  June  1,  1900.  White  persons  having 
both  parents  born  in  specified  countries  or  of  mixed  foreign  parentage. 

17 


Milwaukee 3,483 

St.  Paul 3,002 

South  Omaha 2,187 

Allegheny 1,565 

Detroit 1,312 

Racine 1,078 

La  Crosse 1,062 

Bohemian    {and  Moravian   stock)    in   selected    cities 

\9W 

Chicago 110,736 

New  York 40,988 

Cleveland 39,296 

St.  Louis 10,282 

Baltimore 7,750 

Milwaukee 6,370 

Omaha 5,414 

St.  Paul 4,140 

Pittsburgh 3,453 

Detroit 2,641 

Cechoslovaks  in  selected  cities 

1920^ 

Chicago 50,392 

Cleveland 23,007 

New  York 26,292 

Milwaukee 4,497 

Omaha 4,305 

Minneapolis 1,828 

St.  Paul 1,797 

^Thirteenth  U.  S.  census,  June  1,  1910.  Leading  mother 
tongues  of  the  foreign  white  stock  of  selected  cities.  Native  white 
stock  of  foreign  or  mixed  parentage. 

^Preliminary  Press  Announcements  as  shown  by  the  returns  of 
the  Fourteenth  (1920)  U.  S.  Census.  Distribution  of  the  foreign- 
born  white  population  by  country  of  birth. 

18 


Comparing  it  to  the  Irish  and  the  German, 
Cechoslovak  immigration  is  comparatively  recent. 
The  tide  of  the  Cechs  set  in  after  1848.  That  of  the 
Slovaks  several  decades  later.  At  the  time  the  Cech 
infiltration  began,  land  in  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Neb- 
raska, Minnesota  and  the  other  states  in  the  Mid- 
west could  be  had  for  the  asking.  This  determined 
the  character  of  their  occupation;  they  became 
farmers.  When  the  Slovaks  started  pouring  in — 
after  1890 — the  land  in  the  corn  and  wheat  producing 
belt  was  already  prohibitive  in  price.  On  the  other 
side,  the  steel  mill,  the  coal  mine,  the  coke  field, 
the  machine  shop,  the  refinery  in  Pennsylvania, 
New  Jersey,  Ohio,  Connecticut,  beckoned  to  work- 
men to  come.  Skilled  and  unskilled,  all  could  get  a 
job.  The  wages  offered  were  fair;  measured  by  old- 
country  standards,  fabulous.  If  land-ownership  as- 
sured independence  to  the  farmer  in  a  distant  future, 
the  wage-earner  in  the  mill  and  the  mine  could 
console  himself  with  the  thought  that  his  labor 
yielded  him  a  prompt  return,  not  tomorrow,  but 
today.  This  actuality  again  determined  the  choice 
of  the  occupation  of  the  Slovaks. 

We  will  not  search  for  the  Cechoslovaks  in  the 
ranks  of  the  great  merchants,  employers  of  labor  on 
a  large  scale,  men  of  inherited  wealth.  Among  these 
we  will  not  find  them.  Humble  men  from  the 
ordinary  walks  of  life  they  are — farmers,  mechanics, 
shop-keepers,  wage-earners. 


19 


CHAPTER  V 

The  Cech  Community  of  New  York 

The  principal  settlement  is  located  between 
Second  Avenue  and  the  East  River  from  Sixty-fifth 
to  Seventy-eighth  streets.  Within  this  area  lives  a 
mixture  of  races:  On  the  extreme  north  the  Germans; 
several  blocks,  (Seventy-fifth  between  First  and 
Second  Avenues)  are  peopled  by  Italians;  numerous 
Hungarian  restaurants  attest  the  presence  of  a  large 
body  of  Magyars;  the  negroes  obtained  a  foothold 
on  both  sides  of  Seventy-third  Street  between 
Second  and  Third  Avenues;  along  Avenue  A  is  a 
scattering  of  Greeks.  At  all  points  the  Slovaks  mix 
with  the  Cechs.  The  Jews  (in  this  instance  Magyar 
Jews),  predominate  as  shop-keepers.  However,  it 
is  the  Cech  who  gives  this  quarter  of  the  city  an 
atmosphere  all  its  own. 

A  small  group  has  maintained  itself  since  the 
Civil  War  in  the  Morrisania  section  of  the  Bronx 
(Bohemianized  Marazin).  There  are  a  few  scattered 
families  in  Brooklyn.  The  Dutch  Kills  enclave  of 
Queens  Borough  is  quite  strong  economically  (most 
of  the  residents  owning  neat  cottages),  and  active 
socially.  Other  more  or  less  known  points  of  con- 
centration in  the  State  of  New  York  are  Winfield, 
Corona,  College  Point,  Flushing  Heights,  Whitestone, 
Islip,  East  Islip,  Bay  Shore,  Sayville,  Highland 
Falls,  Rockland  Lake,  Tarrytown,  Poughkeepsie, 
Buffalo,  Schenectady,  Binghamton,  Yonkers, 
Gloversville,  Elmira,  Richmond  Borough. 

20 


At  the  time  the  author  arrived  in  New  York 
(1879),  his  countrymen  were  massed  between 
Houston  Street  on  the  south,  Eighth  Street  on  the 
north  (Tompkins  Square,  their  favorite  rendezvous, 
they  called  the  White  Garden  from  the  whiteness  of 
the  asphalt),  and  Avenue  A  on  the  west.  None 
lived  on  the  East  River  front,  and  but  a  few  were 
bold  enough  to  penetrate  the  unknown  regions  west 
of  Avenue  A,  "where  strangers  lived."  In  the  blocks 
between  Third  and  Fifth  Streets  the  concentration 
was  the  densest.  Avenue  B  was  called  the  Cech 
Boulevard.  Individual  families  lived  in  Grand 
(which  in  the  eighties  was  a  business  artery  of  no 
mean  importance),  in  Broome,  Delancey,  Rivington, 
Stanton,  Essex,  Clinton,  Norfolk,  Pitt.  Within  a 
stone's  throw  from  Avenue  B  were  the  stores  of 
Cech  bakers,  butchers,  grocers,  and  saloon  keepers. 
On  the  northwest  corner  of  Avenue  B  and  Fourth 
Street  the  daily  "Delnicke  Listy"  had  its  business 
office.  At  533  East  Fifth  Street  stood  the  Narodni 
Budova  (National  Hall),  where  the  community's 
dances,  theatricals,  concerts  and  meetings  of  all 
kinds  were  held.  The  National  Hall  was  an  old-time 
five-story  tenement  built  on  an  Astor  leasehold.  In 
1882,  a  number  of  organizations  bought  out  the 
place  and  altered  it  to  suit  their  needs.  The  ground 
floor  in  the  rear  of  the  saloon  was  provided  with  a 
primitive  stage  and  dance  hall;  the  second  floor  was 
fitted  out  as  a  library  and  lodge  rooms.  The  upper 
floors  were  rented  for  tenement  purposes.  On  the 
Liliputian  stage,  amateurs  acted  the  queens  and  kings 
of  old  Bohemia.  From  it  many  a  hot  invective  was 
hurled  at  the  Hapsburgs;  many  an  appealing  ditty 
sung  reminding  the  audience  of  the  oppressed 
fatherland. 

21 


Between  the  end  of  the  eighties  and  the  first 
years  of  the  nineties  the  community,  except  isolated 
families,  migrated  uptown  to  where  its  present 
quarters  are. 

What  was  the  reason  of  the  exodus  ?  More 
sanitary  tenements  uptown,  and  nearness  to  the 
cigar  shops,  in  which  they  worked.  The  break-up 
of  the  downtown  habitat  was  not  a  matter  of  months. 
The  migration  persisted  for  a  period  of  years  until 
the  Fifth  Street  center  was  emptied  of  the  last  Cech. 

In  the  nineties  Cech  lodges  and  clubs  officially 
approved  of  the  community's  new  site  uptown,  im- 
printing upon  it  a  seal  of  permanency,  by  building 
halls,  club  houses  and  churches  there. 

The  Czechoslovak  Consulate  General  forms  an 
integral  part  of  the  community.  Dr.  Borivoj 
Prusik,  who  is  at  the  head  of  it,  is  a  scholar  of 
recognized  merit  in  his  mother  country. 

The  Foreign  Language  Information  Service  has 
a  Czechoslovak  Section  of  which  S^rka  B.  Hrbkova, 
writer,  lecturer  and  teacher,  is  the  manager. 


CHAPTER  VI 
Occupation 

Cigar  makers.  For  more  than  sixty  years  cigar 
making  has  been  and  still  is,  a  distinctive  occupation. 

Precisely  when  and  under  what  circumstances  the 
tobacco  industry  has  obtained  the  upper  hand  among 
New  York  Cechs  is  an  unstudied  chapter  which  will 
need  attention.  Indications  are,  however,  that  the 
trade  is  old — as  old  as  the  immigration  itself.  Al- 
ready in  1858,  Wenceslaus  Krechtler  was  the  owner 
of  a  cigar  store  at  157  Canal  Street,  and  in  the  rear 
of  it  he  worked  up  the  weed.  Frank  Korbel,  Thomas 
Jurinek  and  Frank  R.  Mracek,  pioneer  settlers  (see 
their  biographies  in  the  chapter  on  Pioneers),  were 
cigar  makers  about  the  same  time,  even  earlier.  A 
story  is  current — it  sounds  plausible — that  a  repre- 
sentative of  Kerbs  &  Spiess  was  sent  to  Sedlec,  near 
Kutna  Hora,  where  the  former  Austrian  Government 
operated  a  tobacco  factory,  to  enlist  trained  workers 
for  his  firm  in  New  York.  The  wages  offered  were 
so  tempting  that  many  employees,  men  and  women, 
took  the  American  agent  at  his  word  and  emigrated. 
According  to  another  report,  cigar  makers  from 
Sedlec  began  to  flock  to  New  York  in  consequence 
of  glowing  accounts  sent  thither  by  a  band  of  Sedlec 
men  who  had  settled  in  Morrisania.  One  of  these 
men  was  Vincent  Vanicek;  others  were  John  Dvofdk, 
Joseph  StSpanek,  John  Drahordd,  Adolph  Mucha 
and  Anna  Cerny  (who  became  Vanicek's  wife). 
During  and  after  the  Civil  War  every  incoming  ship 
brought  fresh  contingents  of  workers.     Under  the 


tutorship  of  the  Sedlec  men  butchers,  blacksmiths, 
bakers,  miners,  peasants,  college  students,  agricul- 
tural laborers  and  domestics  learned  to  strip  tobacco, 
break  bunches  and  roll  them. 

Editor  L.  J.  Palda  estimated  that  in  1868,  when 
he  landed,  95%  of  his  countrymen  were  engaged  in 
the  tobacco  industry.^  "Every  newcomer,"  re- 
lates Palda  in  his  Reminiscences,  '*no  matter  what 
his  trade  or  vocation  in  the  old  country,  ended  by 
becoming  a  cigar  maker,  because  cigar  making  paid 
better  than  any  other  line  of  work."  An  expert 
textile  worker  from  Europe,  Palda  himself  learned 
to  make  cigars  in  New  York. 

Between  1880-95  when  the  industry  attained  its 
high  water  mark  the  Cechs  worked  for  the  following 
firms: 

Herman  Benz,  151  Avenue  A. 

Bondy  &  Lederer,  110  Attorney  Street. 

Isidor  Jacobi,  126  First  Avenue. 

Kerbs  &  Bro.,  232  E.  36th  Street. 

Kerbs  &  Spiess,  1020  Second  Avenue  and  East 
54th  Street. 

Emanuel  W.  Mendel,  243  Third  Street  and 
15>2  Bowery. 

Adolph  Moonelis,  143  Avenue  D. 

Bernhard  Newmark,  318  E.  75th  Street. 

Abraham  and  Isaac  Rosenthal,  624  E.  16th  and 
351  E.  73rd  Street. 

Emil  Seidenberg,  360  Second  Avenue. 

Joseph  S.  Seidenberg,  66  Reade  Street. 

Leopold  Schwarzkopf  &  Co.,  309  E.  46th  and 
1329  Avenue  A. 

M.  Silverthau  &  Co.,  340  E.  36th  Street. 

^Mr.  Vincent  W.  Woytisek,  Deputy  County  Clerk,  an  old 
resident  of  New  York,  asserts  that  Palda's  average  is  too  high,  75% 
being  nearer  the  mark. 

1!4 


M.  Stachelberg  &  Co.,  154  So.  5th  Avenue. 

Straiton  &  Storm,  204  E.  27th  Street,  203  E. 
33rd  Street  and  457  First  Avenue. 

Morris  Prochaska,  102  Attorney  Street. 

Wertheim  &  Schiffer,  1020  Second  Avenue. 

Sixty-odd  years  of  cigar  making  and  not  one] 
Cech   manufacturer  has    risen    from    the  ranks   of\ 
workers!     Thousands  of  privates,  not  one  employer! 
of  labor!    A  co-operative  shop  which  Cech  workmen  I 
organized  in   1874  went  into   the  receiver's  hands  J 
after  a  short-lived  and  stormy  existence. 

The  author  asked  Mr.  Joseph  Stepanek,  said  to 
be  the  oldest  living  cigar  maker  in  the  city,  to  set 
down  in  writing  his  reminiscences.  He  arrived  as  a 
lad  of  twelve  direct  from  the  factory  at  Sedlec.  As 
he  is  now  in  his  eighty-fifth  year,  he  has  been  rolling 
"smokers"  seventy-three  years.  The  observations 
of  this  venerable  workman,  the  author  felt,  would 
be  exceedingly  illuminative.  Mr.  Stepanek  wrote 
a  modest  narrative  in  which  he  told  of  having  wit- 
nessed the  memorable  trial  by  jury  at  Kutna  Hora 
in  1851,  of  Charles  Havlicek,  the  tribune  of  the 
Cech  people.  In  1865,  he  walked  with  50  other 
New  York  Cechs  in  the  funeral  cortege  of  Abraham 
Lincoln.  He  described  what  keen  joy  he  derived  as 
a  member  of  a  New  York  amateur  singing  club  (he 
sang  tenor);  concerning  his  experiences  as  a  cigar 
maker  he  had  not  a  word  to  say.  "That  phase  of 
my  life,"  he  explained,  "was  a  song  without  a 
melody." 

Palda's  95%  of  cigar  makers  in  1866,  does  not 
obtain  in  1920.  The  American  born  children  of 
cigar  makers  will  not  learn  and  follow  the  trade  of 
their  parents.  They  find  that  the  office,  the  store, 
the  mechanic's  bench  offer  greater  possibilities  of 
promotion  than  a  cigar  shop  does. 

25 


How  many  are  still  attached  to  the  tobacco 
industry  ?  No.  141  of  the  Cigar  Makers*  Interna- 
tional Union  of  America  has  952  Cech  members  (men 
and  women),  621  of  whom  pay  60  cents  per  week  in 
dues,  289  40  cents,  42  30  cents.  Union  No.  90  has 
also  some  Cechs.  Workers  not  belonging  to  any 
union  are  said  to  number  2,500.  Outside  of  Greater 
New  York  there  are  not  more  than  100  cigar  makers. 
This  makes  a  total  of  3,552  organized  and  unor- 
ganized workers.^ 

Pearl  button  makers.  Excellent  showing  has 
been  made  in  that  other  distinctively  Cech  industry, 
the  pearl  button  manufacture.  Though  neither  as 
old  as  cigar  making — it  was  introduced  here  by 
workmen  from  2irovnice,  in  Bohemia,  after  the 
passage  in  Congress  of  McKinley's  protective  tariff — 
nor  as  voluminous  (it  gives  employment  to  not  more 
than  1,500  or  1,600  operatives),  pearl  button  making 
has  contrived  to  school  not  only  factory  hands  but 
factory  bosses  as  well. 

The  number  of  Cech  manufacturers  is  67,  located 
as  follows:  Connecticut  (West  Willington,  Stafford- 
ville,  Higganum),  6;  New  Jersey  (North  Bergen, 
Secaucus,  Little  Ferry,  Cliffside,  Guttenberg,  New 
Durham),  20;  Illinois  (Chicago),  1.  Of  the  40  plants 
in  Greater  New  York,  19  are  situated  in  Manhattan, 
12  in  Winfield,  7  in  Astoria,  1  in  Maspeth,  1  in  Islip. 

These  67  concerns  represent  an  investment  of 
from  $1,500,000  to  $1,750,000:  12  manufac- 
turers have  invested  $25,000  and  over;  15  manu- 
facturers have  invested  $10,000  to  $20,000;  15 
manufacturers  have  invested  $5,000  to  $10,000; 
25  manufacturers  have  invested  $1,500  to  $5,000. 
Several  of  the  smaller  manufacturers  dojjnot  employ 

^Statement  by  Joseph  Wodicka,  Secretary  of  No.  141  of  the 
Cigar  Makers'  International  Union  of  America. 


any  outside  help,  relying  solely  upon  members  of 
their  own  families  for  labor. 

The  number  of  operatives  is  1,550.  In  normal 
times  this  figure  would  be  considerably  higher. 
**The  volume  of  business  as  based  on  statistics  for 
1920  is  between  $3,000,000  and  |3,500,000,  and  it 
represents,''  says  Mr.  W.  E.  Schwanda,  "slightly 
less  than  one-half  of  the  total  value  of  ocean  pearl 
buttons  produced  in  the  United  States."^ 

Metal  workers.  In  the  several  branches  of  the 
metal  industry,  not  less  than  500.^ 

The  needle  trade.  Of  journeymen  tailors  there 
are  300.  Merchant  tailors  are  surprisingly  few, 
which  proves  that  the  Cech  is  a  better  workman 
than  a  business  man.  Ladies'  tailors  appear  to  be 
more  enterprising,  for  they  outnumber  by  far  men's 
custom  tailors.  Apprenticed  to  their  art  in  European 
fashion  centers — Vienna,  Berlin,  Paris,  Prague — 
ladies'  tailors  are  in  demand  by  all  the  leading 
houses  and  command  high  wages. 

Dressmakers,  200.^ 

Musicians,  50.^^ 

Bakers.  Boss  bakers,  15  in  Manhattan,  5  in 
Queens.^  The  journeymen  bakers'  union  has  220 
members;  non-union  workers  30,  together  250. 

Butchers  and  bologna  makers.  Workmen  and 
bosses,  not  in  excess  of  75.^ 

^For  this  information  on  pearl  button  manufacture  the  author 
is  under  special  obligation  to  Mr.  W.  E.  Schwanda  of  B.  Schwanda 
&  Sons,  Ocean  Pearl  Button  Manufacturers  of  New  York,  and  to 
Mr,  Christy,  Secretary  of  the  Ocean  Pearl  Button  Industry  Asso- 
ciation. 

^Statement  by  Joseph  Modr. 

^Statement  by  J.  Kubik. 

^Statement  by  bandmasket  Frank  Turek. 

^Statement  by  Joseph  Huml. 

^Statement  by  Adolph  Konas. 

27 


Grocers,  40;  formerly  between  50-60/ 
Druggists,  12  and  as  many  registered  clerks.' 
Carpenters,  etc.     A  journeyman  cabinet  maker, 
who  knows  all  the  leading  shops  in  the  city,  estimates 
the  number  of  carpenters   (union   and  non-union), 
cabinet  makers,  joiners  and  mill  hands  at  500.' 

Piano  makers.  In  times  of  prosperity  these  were 
700  strong.  This  included  cabinet  makers,  polishers 
in  warerooms  and  tuners.  Owing  to  the  grave 
crisis  in  the  piano  industry  hundreds  were  laid  off  or 
discharged,  so  that  to-day's  total  is  comparatively 
small,  according  to  one  computation  not  more  than 
150.* 

Furriers.  Firms  like  Revillon  Fr^res  and  C.  G. 
Gunther's  Sons  have  had  them  in  their  employ  for 
many  years.  The  cutting  of  furs  was  a  favorite 
vocation  from  the  first.  Lassak  and  Konvalinka 
employed  Cech  furriers  as  far  back  as  the  fifties. 
There  are  in  the  neighborhood  of  10  fur  dealers  and 
200  operatives;  Slovaks  included,  the  number  of 
operatives  may  reach  500.* 

Marble  and  stone  cutters.  Nine  firms  are  partly 
or  wholly  in  control  of  Cechoslovaks.  **As  to  the 
other  question,  how  many  marble  workers  are  em- 
ployed in  Greater  New  York,  I  wish  to  state  that 
the  information  received  from  the  unions  indicated 
that  there  are  about  250  marble  cutters,  setters  and 
helpers  and  130  polishers  and  bed  rubbers.' 

'Statement  by  Joseph  Label  and  Joseph  Huml. 

^Statement  by  Charles  Krepela,  Ph.D. 

•Statement  by  Charles  Knakal. 

^Statement  by  Jakub  Wodrazka,  for  42  years  in  the  employ  of 
Estey  Piano  Co. 

"Statements  by  Joseph  Kubik  and  Joseph  Srsen,  the  latter  of 
S.  and  v.,  Inc. 

"Statement  by  B.  W.  Sidlo,  of  Voska,  Foelsch  &  Sidlo. 

28 


Building  trades — bricklayers,  carpenters,  plas- 
terers— which  flourish  in  Chicago  and  Cleveland, 
where  every  one  builds  or  owns  his  cottage,  are  in- 
consequential. Cechs  may  be  builders  and  con- 
tractors in  Chicago  and  elsewhere,  but  in  New  York 
they  are  not. 

Saloon  keepers — not  only  preceded  the  bakers, 
the  butchers  and  the  grocers,  but,  before  the  dry 
laws  put  most  of  them  out  of  business — outnumbered 
them.  This  is  quite  understandable.  The  baker  and 
the  butcher  had  to  have  preliminary  training;  like- 
wise a  small  capital  to  start  with.  The  saloon  man 
required  neither.  The  brewer  set  him  up  in  business 
on  credit.  To  draw  beer  from  the  spigot  and  to 
serve  drinks  needed  no  skill.  Anyone  could  get  the 
knack  of  it  in  a  few  days.  If  he  was  content  to  live 
from  the  patronage  of  his  co-nationals  he  could  get 
along  without  the  knowledge  of  English.  Singularly 
enough,  but  few  saloon  keepers  have  made  money 
in  the  liquor  traffic,  though  hundreds  have  tried  it. 
On  the  other  hand,  many  a  baker,  butcher  or  grocer 
was  able  to  retire  with  a  sufficiency. 

Old  New  Yorkers  recall  Albert  Karel,  who  before 
the  Civil  War  kept  a  "lokM"  at  426  Broome  Street. 
The  military  deserter  Tuma,  nicknamed  Columbus, 
boasted  in  a  letter  to  a  Prague  paper  in  1850,  that 
he  was  the  proprietor  of  a  **casino"  in  this  city. 
August  Hubacek,  whose  resort  was  located  at 
.533  East  5th  Street,  which  was  subsequently  pur- 
chased by  Cech  societies  for  a  National  Hall,  was 
the  uncrowned  king  of  saloon  men.  Other  liquor 
dealers  whose  names  and  the  places  they  kept 
acquired  local  prominence  were  Anton  Cerny,  Peter 
St'astny  (in  1878,  St'astny  had  a  place  at  320  E.  5th 
Street,  and  later  uptown  on  Avenue  A),  J.  Synacek 
(618  E.  5th  Street),  Safarik  &  Cerovsky,  etc.      The 

29 


last  two  (brothers-in-law),  operated  in  1882,  a 
country  brewery  at  Maspeth,  L.  I.,  but  they  lost  it 
owing  to  lack  of  capital  and  general  incompetence. 

Before  the  war,  saloon  keepers  in  Greater  New 
York  numbered  not  less  than  100.  Restrictive  laws 
cut  this  total  to  30/ 

Business  men  other  than  saloon  keepers  increased 
slowly.  Francis  Brodsky  could  not  locate  one 
Cech  merchant  when  he  returned  to  New  York  in 
1854  from  a  whaling  expedition.  Some  had  not  the 
capital,  others  lacked  skill,  or  were  ignorant  of 
English.  The  teaching  of  the  theorists  that  property 
is  theft  (according  to  Proudhon),  and  the  propaganda 
carried  on  most  intensively  in  the  radical  press  be- 
tween 1885-95  against  the  middleman  in  business 
swerved  many  a  waverer  from  pursuing  a  business 
career  or  investing  his  money  in  real  estate. 

The  advertising  page  of  the  "Newyorkske  Listy" 
in  1878,  will  give  us  an  idea  of  the  extent  and  variety 
of  business: 

F.  Vyborny  &  Son,  steamship  tickets,  forwarding 
and  exchange,  25  Avenue  A. 

Franta  Such](^,  baker,  corner  Avenue  B  and 
Fourth  Street. 

F.  Brodsky,  steamship  tickets,  forwarding  and 
foreign  exchange,  26  Avenue  C. 

K.  Sladky,  photographer,  349  Bowery,  near 
Third  Street. 

Joseph  Krikava,  wine  shop,  50  Avenue  B. 

Adolph  HaSek,  bookbinder,  161  East  Fourth 
Street. 

Karel  Machovsk^,  undertaker,  209  East  Third 
Street. 

Karel  Svoboda,  druggist,  136  Stanton  Street. 

^Statement  by  William  Vesely. 
30 


J.  V.  Linke,  hardware,  236  East  Fourth  Street. 

Karel  Hlavdc,  tobacco,  180  East  Third  Street. 

Frances  Tichy,  modiste,  169  East  Second  Street. 

The  firm  of  Joseph  Oktavec  (formerly  Laffargue 
&  Oktavec)  manufactures  pianos.  Their  pianos  are 
exported   to  Australia. 

Holub-Dusha  Co.  are  inventors  and  builders  of 
machines  generally  used  in  the  pearl  button  trade. 
The  machines  are  exported  to  Japan  and  to  Zirov- 
nice,  in  Bohemia.  The  2irovnice  workers,  it  will  be 
remembered,  introduced  pearl  button  manufacture  in 
this  country. 

Waldes  &  Co.,  Inc.,  in  Queens  Borough  are  makers 
of  a  superior  snap  fastener,  known  the  world  over  as 
the  "Kohinoor." 

Francis  Keil  &  Son  have  an  excellent  reputation 
in  the  trade  as  lock  makers  and  manufacturers  of 
hardware.  Many  Cech  mechanics  are  employed  in 
their  shops. 

The  Manda  Floral  Co.  (landscape  architects)  j 
and  W.  A.  Manda,  Inc.,  of  South  Orange,  N.  J., 
were  founded  by  a  Cech  florist. 

There  are,  besides,  drygoods  merchants,  florists, 
undertakers,  jewelers,  watchmakers,  stationers. 

Every  shop  and  factory  in  New  York,  manufac- 
turing clocks,  watches,  musical  instruments,  art 
objects,  gloves  (there  is  a  strong  settlement  of 
Cechs  in  the  centre  of  the  glove  industry,  at  Glovers- 
ville),  sewing  machines,  furniture,  carriages  and 
automobiles,  jewelry,  machinery,  employs  Cech 
mechanics.  Several  years  ago  Tiffany's  watch  and 
clock  department  was  in  charge  of  a  clock  specialist 
(Lindauer),  who  helped  many  a  fellow  countryman 
to  a  remunerative  job  with  that  firm.  Hoe  &  Co., 
manufacturers  of  printing  presses  have  had  on  their 

31 


pay  roll  mechanics  of  Cech  nationality  since  in  1850. 

The  percentage  of  unskilled  labor  in  New  York 
is  small.  Probably  less  than  3%.  Unlike  other 
Slavic  groups,  Cechs  do  not  seek  employment  in 
basic  industries;  nor  are  they  found  among  seasonal 
and  mobile  labor. 

One  class  of  workers  must  not  be  overlooked — 
the  domestics,  whose  qualities  as  housekeepers  are 
duly  appreciated  in  numerous  New  York  households. 

Physicians.  In  the  "New  Yorsk^  Listy"  in  1877, 
Clement  Cibulka  advertised  his  office  at  309  E. 
Fourth  Street,  "across  the  street  from  the  Cech 
Church."  The  practitioners  before  Cibulka  were: 
M.  Schoen,  "examining  surgeon  of  the  First  Benevo- 
lent Society,"  and  J.  E.  Popper.  Josef  de  S.  Le- 
wandowski,  a  Pole  by  birth,  but  on  the  doorplate  a 
"Cech  physician,"  used  to  have  an  extensive  clientele. 
Francis  A.  Brodsk^,  son  of  Francis  Brodsk;^^,  the 
steamship  agent,  began  at  59  St.  Marks  Place  about 
1885.  He  died  a  young  man  in  Wisconsin.  Ed- 
ward J.  SchevCik,  who  started  downtown  as  a  druggist 
and  later  settled  uptown,  had  a  large  following  as  a 
druggist  and  physician.  For  a  time  Ale§  HrdliCka, 
the  noted  anthropologist,  practiced  here.  Godfrey 
R.  Pisek,  whose  sudden  death  a  few  months  ago 
shocked  the  community,  had  been  a  consultant  in 
children's  diseases.  Doctors  who  had  practiced 
within  the  last  two  decades  were:  Rosenbluth, 
Breitenfeld,  Friedler,  Strdnsk^,  Moritz,  Lacina, 
Radda,  Mor^vek. 

At  present  the  professiqn  is  represented  by: 
J.  F.  BiCdk,  Francis  J.  Brodil,  W.  W.  Hala  (Queens), 
Leopold  Hahn,  Lilly  JedliCka  (Queens),  Vaclav  F. 
Kouba,  Anna  KubiSta,  H.  R.  Kutil,  J.  C.  Luhan, 
Helen  Paul   (Queens),  Julius  J.  Paider,  Lillian  V. 

32 


Paider,   L.    J.    PlaSek,   O.    R.    Pozdgna    (Queens), 

Alois  Renner,    Riha  (Queens),   D.  J.  Rfl^iCka, 

Oscar  J.  Riizi(^ka  (Kings),  Josef  Saxl,  Francis  W. 
Sovdk,  Charles  Sowa,  I.  Stein,  Joseph  Tenop^r, 
Otakar  Tenopyr,  Charles  Vejvoda. 

Lawyers.  Before  the  Cechs  began  buying  real 
estate,  prospects  were  not  bright  for  lawyers.  The 
first  lawyer  to  be  admitted  to  the  bar  was  Frank 
Pisek.  John  W.  Konvalinka,  presumably  the  son  of 
John  Konvalinka,  the  furrier  of  36  Maiden  Lane, 
practiced  before  Pisek's  time,  but  he  was  Cech  only 
on  his  father's  side.  So  was  John  E.  Brodsky,  son 
of  a  pioneer  of  that  name.  Brodsky  was  a  member 
of  the  New  York  Assembly  and  between  the  eighties 
and  nineties  an  influential  Tammany  politician  on 
the  East  Side.  Charles  Kolowrat  conducted  an  office 
in  1881  at  115  Nassau  Street.  Count  Kolowrat,  a 
member  of  an  aristocratic  family  of  that  name  lived 
about  that  time  in  Brooklyn.  The  author  remembers 
reading  an  interview  in  the  "New  York  Herald"  in 
which  Count  Kolowrat  made  the  admission  that  he 
had  fled  to  the  United  States  on  account  of  a  duel  he 
had  fought  with  another  aristocrat  at  home.  One 
of  the  Kolowrats  married  into  the  Oxnard  family  of 
sugar  kings. 

The  attorneys  in  Greater  New  York  are:  Thomas 
Capek  (not  practicing),  Francis  Dgdek,  Frank 
Dlouhy,  F.  L.  Hackenburg,  Albert  Hlavag,  Jr., 
Joseph  Hlavdc^,  John  Hovorka,  Jerome  Krbe^ek, 
Frank  Motl,  Jr.  (Queeris),  Victor  F.  Nekarda, 
Julius  J.  Paider  (practicing  medicine),  Frank  Pisek, 
Charles  Recht,  Charles  B.  Schwanda  (Queens), 
V.  W.  Woyti§ek. 

Teachers.  The  names  of  school  teachers, 
who  had  been  licensed  to  teach  in  Greater  New 
York,    living    and    dead,    active   and  inactive,  are: 

33 


Marie   Anis    (n6e   Franc),   Emily   Austera    (n^e 
Hdjek),    Olga    BartoSek,    Sophie    BartoSek,    Mary 
Bej§ovec    (Kings),   Anna   Benesh,   Emma    Benesh, 
Mathilda    Benesh,    Emil    Beyer    (deceased),    An- 
toinette  Bohat^,   May   Bouda,    K.    Cern^,   Marie 
Damm  (n^e  NgmeCek,  New  Jersey),  Marie  Dlabola 
(n6e    Straka),    A.    Dolan    (n^e    Volenec),    Frances 
Dolezal     (Queens),    Charles    Duch^Cek,    Olga    A. 
Dudek,  Elisa  Enos  (n6e  Fiala),  J.  Fabrikant  (n^e 
Chudoba),    Olga    Filipec,    (n6e    Wdvra,    Queens), 
Juliette   Israel  (n^e  Here),   Emily  E.  Hansa     (n6e 
Pulpit,  Richmond),  Anna  Ha§ek  (n6e  W4vra),  .... 
Hladik,  Mildred  Hrbek,  E.  Hubl,  Emily  Hunt  (n^e 
Poldk),    ....    Jon4§    (n6e   Chudoba),   Rose   Jurka, 
Bertha    K^rnik    (n6e    Cuchal),    Josephine    Kiidkal, 
Edith  Kobildk  (n6e  Schwimbersk^),  Mildred  KoSaf 
(n^e  Forst),  Cecilia  Koukol   (n6e  Pisek),  Caroline 
Kozlik,   Anna    Kov4?ik    (nee   Luther),   John    Krdl, 
Anna  C.  Krtil,  Anna  Krbec^ek  (n6e  Cuchal),  Alice 
P.   Kruli§   (Queens),  Augusta   Kupec,    ....    Lucas, 
Marie   Lier,    Rose   Linhart    (n6e   Cisaf,    Belgium), 
Frances  Linke,  Harriet  Linke,    ....    Louda,  Betty 
Luhan,    Antoinette    Martyny,    Josephine    Minarik, 
Mary  Minarik,  Rose  Minarik,  Mary  E.  Novy,  An- 
toinette Ouda,  ....  PanuSka,  Bertha  PanuSka  (n^e 
Beyer),   George   Paui^ek,   Emma  Peck   (n^e   Koch- 
mann).  Bertha  Petrdsek,  Anna  Pribyl  (n^e  Barto- 
§ek),  Henry  Puletz,  Martin  Puletz,  Rudolph  Charles 
Pokorn^,    Rose   Rankovich    (n6e   VofiSek),    Emma 
Samek,  Joseph  SindelAr,  ....  Sklenka,  Olga    Slavik 
(n^e  Hauser,  New  Jersey),  William   Slavik   (New 
Jersey),  Stanley  Stadler  (died  as  soldier  in  France, 
taught  Latin   in  Stuyvesant  H.   S.),   Clara  Tesar, 
Frances  H.  Uher,  ....  UmdCen^,  Olga  J.  Vejvoda, 
Mary  Vocl  (n6e  HlavdJ^ek),  Anton  VoriSek  (deceased, 
lecturer  in  chemistry  in  Columbia),  Bertha  Wald- 

84 


man  (n^e  Kodet),  Charles  Wirth,  Ottilie  Wirth  (nee 
Krepela),  Josephine  Wolf  (nee  Cepek).  Mrs.  Cecilie 
Koukol  is  dean  of  teachers  of  Cech  nationality. 
Her  husband,  Mr.  A.  B.  Koukol,  lectures  in  the 
Slavonic  Department  of  Columbia  University. 

Dentists.      The    late    Emil    Vejvoda    was    the 
pioneer  dentist. 

Dentists  authorized  to  practice  are: 
Wm.  Bglsky,  A.  B.  Jurka  (Queens),  Charles 
Jurka,  Edith  Jurka  (nee  Schevcik),  Arthur  J. 
Krbecek,  Charles  Hattauer,  Chas.  R.  Motak,  Frank 
Nemecek,  Josephine  E.  Luhan,  Robert  Mantler, 
Frank  I.  Rubricius,  Thomas  Prach,  Charles  Urban, 
Henry  Urban,  Homer  Ursini,  Wm.  Wagner  (Queens). 


35 


CHAPTER  VII 

Economic  Strength 

A  conservative  estimate  by  an  observant  resident, 
who  is  himself  a  real  estate  holder*  places  the 
number  of  flats  and  tenements  in  the  upper  east  side 
district  (comprised  in  the  old  Nineteenth  Ward), 
owned  by  private  individuals  and  corporations  at 
400.  Computing  the  equities  at  J10,000  apiece, 
which  is  not  an  excessive  average,  considering  the 
increased  valuation  by  the  city,  we  get  a  total  of 
$4,000,000  invested.  This,  however,  takes  into 
account  Manhattan  and  Bronx  only.  In  Queens 
Borough,  particularly  in  the  Astoria  part  of  it  there 
are  hundreds  of  cottage  owners  and  speculators  in 
a  small  way  in  unimproved  realty. 

Some  of  the  corporations  owning  real  estate  are: 
American  Bohemian  Realty  Co.,  American  Sla- 
vonian Realty  Co.,  Anchor  Bohemian  Real  Estate 
Association,  Bohemian-Moravian  Real  Estate  As- 
sociation, Bohemian  Real  Estate  Association  Bee, 
Bohemian  Catholic  Benevolent  Society,  Borivoj 
Realty  Co.,  Freeport  Land  and  Improvement  Co., 
Jan  Hus  Real  Estate  Association,  Jan  2i2ka  Real 
Estate  Association,  Land  and  Mortgage  Co.  Bo- 
hemia, Olive  Realty  Co.,  Progress  Construction 
Co.,  H.  C.  D.  Realty  Corporation,  Slavic  Realty 
Corporation,  Reliable  Building  Co.,  Star  Bohemian 
Real  Estate  Association,  Veslub  Realty  Co.,  Zvano- 
vec  Real  Estate  Co.,  Steinway  Avenue  Theatre,  Inc. 
The    Reliable    Building   Company  (Michael    Piln^- 

^Mr.  Vaclav  Nemecek,  Director  of  the  Bank  of  Europe. 
36 


2ek,  president),  built  in  Long  Island  City  30  apart- 
ments, dwellings,  and  a  moving  picture  theatre  at 
a  cost  of  11,000,000. 

The  downtown  banks  which  take  care  of  their 
savings  are  the  Dry  Dock,  Bowery  (these  two  enjoy 
the  patronage  of  old  settlers).  Emigrant,  U.  S.  Sav- 
ings, Central  (the  old  German  Savings),  Citizens 
Savings. 

The  Bank  of  Europe,  the  chief  business  deposi- 
tary of  the  Cechoslovaks  had  deposits  in  June,  1921, 
in  excess  of  j^6,500,000. 


37 


CHAPTER  VIII 

The  Press 

New  York's  first  newspaper  was  called  the  "Lu- 
cerna"  (Lantern).  It  was  written  by  hand  and  but 
one  issue  was  published. 

Lev  J.  Palda  narrates  how  the  "Lucerna" 
originated.  It  was  during  the  Franco-Prussian  war. 
The  sympathies  of  the  American  Cechs  were  all  on 
the  side  of  the  French,  and  far  more  keenly  than  the 
settlers  in  the  Midwest  the  New  Yorkers  felt  the 
need  of  a  paper  in  which  they  could  give  vent  to 
their  feelings  on  the  issues  involved  in  the  war.  "A 
mass  meeting,"  relates  Palda,  "was  held  in  Cooper 
Union  on,  I  think,  November  19,  1870,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  International  Workmen's  Union  of 
New  York,  to  protest  against  the  further  prosecution 
of  the  war  by  Germany.  The  Cech  societies  of  New 
York  expressed  willingness  to  help  with  money  and 
to  take  part  in  the  demonstration;  the  meeting,  not- 
withstanding threats  of  violence  by  those  siding 
with  Germany,  was  a  big  success.  The  attendance  of 
the  Cechs  alone  was  estimated  at  500.  Speeches  were 
made  in  English,  German,  Cech  and  French.  I  came 
from  Chicago  as  the  invited  speaker  of  the  New 
York  societies.  It  was  agreed  between  Jandus^ 
and  myself  that  I  should  not  return  to  Chicago,  but 
should  in  partnership  with  him,  open  a  book  and 
stationery  store  in  New  York  and  publish  a  news- 
paper. . .  .Of  the  paper  only  one  number  came  out; 

^William  Jandus,  living  in  Cleveland,  was  at  that  time  a  resident 
of  New  York. 


we  had  not  means  enough  to  publish  any  more.  I 
provided  the  text,  Jandus  (who  was  a  fine  penman) 
wrote  it  by  hand.  ..." 

The  next  paper  was  a  weekly,  "The  New  Yorsk6 
(then  spelled  Newyorkske)  Listy."  The  Slovanska 
Lipa  Society  was  nominally  the  publisher,  Jan 
Rajndl  (Reindl),  a  teacher  of  music  and  a  tenor  of 
considerable  distinction,  editor.  The  paper  did 
poorly — with  500  subscribers  and  a  handful  of  beg- 
garly-paid advertisements  it  could  not  do  otherwise. 
In  1876,  John  Vratislav  Capek,  an  experienced 
journalist,  bought  out  the  "Newyorksk6  Listy,"  and 
in  May,  1877,  made  a  daily  out  of  it.  The  budget 
of  the  paper  had  just  begun  to  balance,  when  a  strike 
of  cigar  makers  broke  out.  This  meant  unemploy- 
ment of  the  majority  of  the  subscribers  of  the  paper, 
and,  should  the  strike  last  long,  its  certain  bank- 
ruptcy. At  a  critical  moment,  when  all  seemed 
lost,  Capek  found  a  purchaser  for  the  property  in 
Frank  Skarda,  publisher  in  Cleveland  of  the  "Dgl- 
nicke  Listy"  (Workmen's  News).  Skarda  removed 
his  paper  to  New  York.  With  him  came  L.  J.  Palda, 
his  editor. 

Between  1877  and  1883,  the  "Dglnicke  Listy'' 
had  a  monopoly  in  the  newspaper  field.  The  "New- 
yorkske Listy,"  it  should  be  added,  was  discontinued 
by  the  terms  of  the  purchase. 

After  the  eighties  commenced  the  exodus  from 
Austria-Hungary  of  social  democrats  and  radicals. 
One  of  these  exiles,  Leo  Kochmann,  settled  in  New 
York.  Skarda  put  Kochmann  on  the  staff  of  his 
paper.  Other  comrades  with  ideas  just  as  radical  as 
Kochmann's,  or  even  more  extreme,  began  coming  in 
from  Bohemia.  In  the  summer  of  1882  the  type- 
setters of  the  "Delnicke  Listy"  struck  for  higher 
wages  and  when  Skarda — honorable,  but  arbitrary 

39 


and  headstrong — gave  his  men  to  understand  that 
there  was  nothing  to  arbitrate,  they  set  out  to  pub- 
lish a  paper  of  their  own.  Skarda  was  a  capitalist, 
therefore,  down  with  him!  Led  by  Kochmann,  the 
strikers  addressed  a  ringing  appeal  to  the  public 
claiming  that  a  workmen's  paper,  read  by  workmen, 
should  be  owned  by  workmen.  In  October  of  that 
year  the  paper  of  the  striking  printers  made  its  ap- 
pearance under  the  heading  "DSlnik  Americky" — 
American  Workman. 

The  "Dglnick6  Listy"  did  not  long  survive  the 
strike.  Utterly  ruined,  broken  down  in  health, 
§karda  left  New  York  and  repairing  to  La  Grange, 
Texas,  he  died  there  in  "proud  poverty." 

After  some  years,  the  "Dilnik  Americk^"  con- 
cluded that  the  name,  "New  Yorksk^  Listy"  was  one 
worthy  to  be  preserved  and  so,  discarding  its  own,  it 
assumed  that  of  the  "New  Yorksk^  Listy." 

Other  newspapers  with  a  reputation  or  a  well 
defined  policy  were: 

"The  Patriot."  It  combated  the  rising  tide  of 
radicalism  and  internationalism  which  refugee  so- 
cialists advocated.  Coming  out  in  August,  1883, 
it  suspended  in  January,  1884.  The  publishers  were: 
John  V.   Capek,  Thomas  Capek,  Frank  Barto§ek. 

The  "Proletdf"  (Proletarian),  a  weekly,  organ  of 
the  left  wing  of  social  democrats,  was  established  in 
May,  1884,  by  Leo  Kochmann  and  F.  J.  Hlav^Cek. 
This  journal  was  the  spokesman  of  radicals  who 
opposed  the  program  of  moderate  socialists,  grouped 
around  the  "Dglnlk  Americky."  In  1886,  the 
"Prolet^f"  discontinued  publication  and  Kochmann 
and  his  followers  launched  the  "Hlas  Lidu"  (Voice 
of  the  People).  The  "Hlas  Lidu"  was  made  the 
heir  of  the  policies  of  the  "Proletdf ."  Leo  Kochmann 
remained  at  the  head  of  it  from  the  day  it  came  out, 

40 


July,  1886,  till  1918,  when  he  retired,  owing  to  a 
nervous  breakdown. 

The  "Voln6  Listy,"  a  weekly,  from  the  outset 
proclaimed  itself  the  organ  of  the  anarchists. 
Founded  in  1890,  it  suspended  in  the  first  months 
of  the  war. 

The  "Delnicke  Listy"  (third  of  the  name),  was 
the  outgrowth  of  a  quarrel  between  Leo  Kochmann 
and  F.  J.  Hlavdcek.  Set  up  by  the  latter  and  his 
associates  in  November,  1893,  as  an  opposition  to 
the  "Hlas  Lidu,"  it  catered  to  a  small,  though 
extremely  noisy  group  of  readers.  When  the 
"Dglnick6  Listy"  lost  Hlav45ek  (who  removed  to 
Chicago),  it  lost  its  principal  asset.  Eventually 
this  filibustering  sheet  removed  to  Cleveland,  where 
it  went  down  in  1889. 

The  "Cesk^  SvSt"  (Cech  World),  was  an  illus- 
trated weekly  backed  by  the  New  York  Tract  So- 
ciety and  ably  edited  by  the  Rev.  J.  W.  DobidS. 
The  paper  existed  only  two  years  (1905-7). 

The  "Vgk  Rozumu"  (Age  of  Reason),  appearing 
here  some  ten  years  ago,  was  the  organ  of  the  Free- 
thought  Federation.  It*s  home  office  is  now  in 
Chicago. 

The  "CechoslovAk,"  a  weekly,  survived  barely  a 
year  (1919-20),  yet  disciplined  readers  will  long 
remember  it  as  one  of  the  best  managed  journals 
published  in  New  York.  Its  editor,  Joseph  Mach, 
is  on  the  staff  of  the  Cechoslovak  Press  Bureau 
in  Washington. 

For  the  last  35  years,  the  New  York  reading 
public  has  had  two  dailies,  the  "New  Yorske  Listy" 
and  the  "Hlas  Lidu;"  since  July,  1921,  it  has  but 
one.  The  "Hlas  Lidu"  suspended  voluntarily.  The 
editors  of  the  "New  Yorske  Listy,"  the  paper  which 

41 


remains,  are:  J.  J.  Nov^,  Karel  Leitner,  Joseph 
KroboSt. 

The  "Obrana*'  (Defense),  a  weekly,  is  the  organ 
of  the  social  democratic  party.    Editor,  J.  J.  Kdrnik. 

The  parish  of  the  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Per- 
petual Help  publishes  the  "Tydenni  Zpr^vy  (Weekly 
Tidings). 

The  parish  of  the  Jan  Hus  Presbyterian  Church 
publishes  a  monthly,  the  "Radost"  (Joy). 


42 


CHAPTER  IX 

Politics    and    First    Political   Demonstration 

A  memorable  event  in  the  history  of  the  com- 
munity occurred  September  9,  1864,  when  the  flag  of 
the  Cech-Slavic  Benevolent  Society  was  unfurled 
in  the  City  Hall  Park,  in  the  presence  of  the  Mayor 
(George  Updyke),  and  a  number  of  the  military. 
On  this  great  day,  Cech  and  Polish  societies  marched 
to  the  City  Hall  Park.  There  a  review  and  a  recep- 
tion took  place;  bands  played  martial  and  patriotic 
airs;  the  Mayor  responded  to  the  speaker  of  the  day; 
soldiers  fired  a  salute  in  honor  of  the  flag;  R.  J. 
Jaworowski,  editor  of  a  Polish  newspaper  delivered 
an  address  on  behalf  of  the  Cech  and  Polish  residents 
of  New  York. 

So  awed,  and  at  the  same  time,  so  proud  was  the 
community  that  the  historian  of  the  day  in  a  letter 
to  a  St.  Louis  paper  declared  "that  for  the  first  time 
in  the  history  of  this  country  the  Cechs  had  been 
recognized  as  a  distinct  nation,  and  that  from  that 
great  day  on  Americans  will  regard  them  as  such."  ^ 

We  reprint  verbatim  the  account  of  the  celebra- 
tion as  it  appeared  in  the  "New  York  Herald"  of 
September  12,  1864.  Jaworowski^s  address  was,  no 
doubt,  magniloquent  and  temperamental.  But, 
could  one  expect  anything  else  from  a  Polish  patriot  ? 
A  year  before  his  people  had  revolted  against  Rus- 
sian tyranny,  and  the  revolution  had  been  ruthlessly 
crushed.  Blood — tyranny — revolution — liberty — 

iSt.  Louis  "Pozor,"  September  30,  1864.  Frank  Brodsky  is 
named  in  the  letter  as  president  of  the  society;  Josef  Krikava  as 
godfather  of  the  flag  and  J.  Merunka  as  flag  bearer. 

43 


martyrdom — were  his  themes.  In  the  United  States, 
we  were  passing  through  the  turmoil  of  a  civil  war. 
Jaworowski's  was  the  first  voice  that  had  been 
raised  in  this  country  on  behalf  of  the  downtrodden 
Cechs,  and  for  that  reason  his  speech  and  the  inci- 
dents under  which  it  had  been  made  deserves  to  be 
preserved: 

"The  Union  of  Poles  and  Bohemians.  Procession 
of  Slavonic  families  through  the  City.  Inauguration 
of  the  Bohemian  flag.  Address  to  and  response  of 
the  Mayor. 

"A  large  company,  composed  of  the  two  Slavonic 
families,  celebrated  on  Friday  last,  in  an  imposing 
manner  the  inauguration  of  the  Bohemian  flag  and 
of  the  Slavonic  Union.  At  11  o'clock  a.m.,  the 
procession  arrived  in  front  of  the  City  Hall  and  was 
there  received  by  the  Mayor.  Mr.  R.  J.  Jaworowski, 
on  behalf  of  the  Slavonian  brothers,  addressed  that 
gentleman  as  follows: 

"Mr.  Mayor:  It  is  with  feeling  of  deep  satisfaction 
that  I  come  here  in  the  name  of  Slavonian  brothers, 
Bohemians,  and  my  fellow  countrymen  Poles,  to 
present  to  you,  sir,  the  tribute  of  our  respect  and  our 
consideration.  Here  you  have  before  you  two  flags 
of  two  oppressed  nations,  both  of  Slavonic  origin, 
both  victims  of  aggression  of  their  neighbors,  both 
after  rivers  of  blood  spilled  in  their  defense  by  their 
faithful  sons,  to-day  without  a  country  or  a  father- 
land, come  to  this  land  of  the  brave  and  the  free, 
asking  protection  and  the  privileges  of  liberty 
for  their  expatriated  and  persecuted  sons.  The  flag 
on  the  right,  the  first  that  ever  presented  its  graceful 
folds  to  the  breeze  on  this  continent,  is  the  one  we 
inaugurate  to-day.  The  nation  which  it  represents, 
brave  and  intelligent,  for  centuries  past  enjoyed  its 
independence  and  self-government,  advancing  with 

44 


a  rapid  step  in  the  path  of  progress  and  civilization 
until  1620,  when,  at  the  Battle  of  Biala  Gora,  it 
fell  a  victim  to  the  superior  forces  of  the  Hapsburgs, 
which  keep  till  to-day  an  oppressive  yoke  over  them. 
Two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  they  lost  their 
liberty,  their  name  and  their  independence,  but  they 
did  not  lose  their  nationality,  nor  will  they  ever  lose 
their  hope  or  faith  in  the  final  victory  of  justice,  if 
there  be  justice  on  earth.  This  nation,  full  of 
brotherly  feelings  towards  their  fellow  Slavonian 
brothers  in  other  countries,  first  propagated  the 
principle  of  Slavonic  Union,  which  is  at  present 
known  under  the  technical  term  of  Panslavism. 
The  Czar  of  Moscow,  the  very  representative  of 
despotism  and  oppression,  found  this  idea  serving  his 
purpose  for  aggressive  policy,  and  placed  himself 
at  the  head  of  the  Slavonic  Union  in  prospect.  But 
the  claws  of  a  wolf  have  soon  been  discovered  under 
the  sheepskin  cover,  and  the  very  same  originators 
of  this  great  idea  turned  their  faces  away  with  scorn, 
for  it  was  not  under  the  Mongolian  despotism  that 
they  ever  hoped  for  this  union.  It  was  on  the  solid 
basis  of  liberty  for  themselves,  liberty  for  all  Slavonic 
families,  nay,  liberty  for  the  whole  world.  The  other 
flag,  drooping,  mourning  to  the  ground,  is  the  flag  of 
Sobieski,  Copernicus,  Kosciusko  and  Pulaski,  who, 
alas,  too  soon  for  humanity  shed  his  blood  and  paid 
with  his  life  the  victory  of  your  own  independence. 
This  flag  is  the  flag  of  our  martyred  Poland.  A  century 
approaches  since  it  was  torn  to  pieces  and  its  brave 
sons  scattered  in  all  climes  and  countries.  Glorious 
in  its  history  of  the  past,  bloody  and  painful  of  the 
present,  but  brilliant  in  the  future.  Our  tyrants 
and  our  oppressors  have  vanquished  us,  deprived  us 
of  the  very  shadow  of  national  liberty,  banished  our 
fathers,  our  mothers,  our  sisters  to  Siberia,  crucified 

45 


our  heroes,  but  never,  never  can  they  reach  our 
hearts,  to  extinguish  there  the  sacred  fire — the  love 
of  liberty  and  the  love  of  our  country.  From  every 
drop  of  blood  will  spring  up  an  avenger,  from  every 
bone  a  new  hero,  and  finally  liberty  must  triumph 
over  despotism,  and  Poland  shall  be  free.  We  love 
our  Slavonian  brothers;  we  pity  those  who  serve  as 
tools  in  the  hands  of  our  oppressors;  we  pardon  them 
all  their  cruelties,  but  we  make  alliance  with  those, 
who,  like  our  sons,  aspire  to  freedom;  and  this  very 
day  we  unite  into  one  Slavonic  family  to  attain  the 
same  object — that  is,  to  throw  the  heavy  yoke  of 
oppression  and  to  enjoy  liberty  in  our  native  lands. 
Before,  however,  this  blessed  day  comes,  before  these 
flags  are  victoriously  planted  on  the  walls  of  Prague 
and  Warsaw,  sir,  our  purpose  and  intentions  are  to 
serve  as  peaceful  and  useful  citizens  of  this  republic, 
where  we  ask  the  protection  and  the  privileges  of 
enjoying  liberty,  denied  to  us  in  our  native  lands. 
We  ask  for  protection,  for  we  have  already  had  oc- 
casion to  deplore  the  rendition  of  one  of  our  country- 
men who,  believing  in  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  left  the 
hateful  and  oppressive  yoke  of  Russia,  joined  your 
army,  fought  your  battles,  and  on  the  demand  of 
that  Power  was  returned  by  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  and  long  before  now  has  expiated  the 
crime  of  having  loved  liberty.  We  ask  now,  on  the 
day  of  the  inauguration  of  this  flag  and  on  the  day 
of  the  homogeneous  union  of  all  Slavonic  families, 
with  full  confidence  of  endorsement  of  one  hundred 
thousand  members,  faithful  to  these  two  flags  and 
scattered  over  this  continent,  hospitality  and  pro- 
tection until  Hberty  and  the  calls  of  our  countries 
summon  us  back  to  our  homes  and  our  firesides, 
when  we  will  unanimously  exlaim:  'Hurrah  for 
liberty;  hurrah  for  the  United  States.'  " 

46 


Repeated  cheers  followed  this  address  and  the 
speaker  proposed — which  was  loudly  responded  to — 
three  cheers  for  the  Mayor,  three  for  the  United 
States,  three  for  Poland  and  three  for  liberty  all 
over  the  world. 

The  Mayor  responded  in  a  few  words,  remarking 
that  the  noble  example  of  the  union  of  two  Slavonic 
nations  may  be  followed  by  the  union  of  two  flags 
now  battling  on  American  soil.  That  the  protection 
of  liberty  must  be  granted  to  all  who  came  to  these 
shores.  He  hoped  that  the  suffering  of  Poland  and 
Bohemia  would  soon  be  finished,  and  that  those 
glorious  flags,  which  represented  liberty,  would  be 
placed,  side  by  side,  with  those  of  the  United  States. 

The  procession  then  proceeded  to  Union  Square, 
and  at  the  foot  of  Washington  monument,  Mr. 
Jaworowski  addressed  the  procession  in  the  following 
words : 

"Friends  and  brothers. — On  this  day  of  our  union 
we  come  to  pay  our  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the 
'Father  of  his  Country.'  (Turning  himself  to  the 
statue).  Oh,  thou  great  man,  whose  departed  spirit 
enjoys  the  presence  of  the  Creator,  we  Slavonians 
come  and  bow  our  heads  to  thy  memory.  May  thy 
example  left  to  the  world,  inspire  the  hearts  of  thy 
successors  with  true  love  of  liberty  and  humanity. 
Teach  them,  in  the  secret  of  their  hearts,  to  under- 
stand, that  the  cause  of  liberty  everywhere  among 
nations  is  that  of  loving  liberty  and  hating  despotism. 
With  this  understanding  we  may  expect  that  liberty 
will  triumph  all  over  the  world  and  despotism  will 
find  ruin.  Peace  to  thy  ashes.  Eternal  glory  to  thy 
memory." 

The  procession  then  proceeded  through  several  of 
our  principal  streets,  after  which  it  dispersed. 

So  much  for  the  story  in  the  **New  York  Herald." 
47 


One,  only  one  incident,  marred  the  supreme  joy 
of  all.  A  Mrs.  Frances  Klein,  who  manufactured 
the  flag  placed  the  colors  wrong.  Notwithstanding 
this  unfortunate  blunder  the  flag  continued  to  be  the 
object  of  unbounded  admiration. 

What  of  the  achievements  in  ward  and  assembly 
politics  ?  This  is  a  brief  and  unedifying  chapter. 
One  alderman  (Joseph  Krulish,  1906-7),  and  two 
assemblymen  (M.  J.  MachdCek,  1905-6  and  F.  L. 
Hackenburg,  1920) — that  is  the  end  of  the  chapter. 

The  late  John  E.  Brodsk^  a  Tammany  politician 
(member  of  assembly)  was  of  Cech  descent  on  his 
father's  side. 

"The  Cechs  have  never  had  the  right  kind  of  a 
pull  with  the  district  leaders'' — this  is  the  way  a  wise 
New  York  citizen  explains  the  ill-success  in  the 
political  arena  of  his  countrymen. 


48 


CHAPTER  X 

The  Halls 

The  Ndrodni  Budova  (National  Hall),  at  335-37 
East  73rd  Street  is  the  property  of  a  number  of 
benevolent  organizations.  Erected  in  1896,  it  cost 
to  date  $250,986,  including  the  moving  picture 
house  facing  74th  Street.    The  mortgage  is  $118,000. 

The  same  year  (1896),  The  Gymnastic  Association 
Sokol  built  at  424-26  East  71st  Street  a  club  house  and 
gymnasium  valued  at  $125,000.     Mortgage,  $12,000. 

The  Cech  American  Workingmen's  Sokol  put  up 
several  years  later  at  an  expenditure  of  $225,000,  a 
combination  club  house  and  apartment  in  East 
72nd  Street  in  the  block  between  Avenue  A  and  the 
East  River.    Mortgage,  $70,000. 

The  Sociahst  Party  in  1919  came  into  possession 
of  the  former  Delaware  Club  at  320  East  71st  Street. 
The  price  is  $22,000. 

The  Astoria  Community  has  since  1911  a 
"Domov"  (Home)  valued  at  $45,000. 

Before  the  old  Ndrodni  Budova  in  Fifth  Street 
had  been  acquired,  societies  held  their  more  elaborate 
functions  in  German-owned  halls  such  as  the  New 
York  Turn  Hall,  66  E.  4th  Street;  Harmonic  Rooms, 
141  Essex  Street;  Germania  Assembly  Rooms,  291 
Bowery;  Concordia  Assembly  Rooms,  30  Avenue  A; 
Germania,  46  Avenue  A;  Assembly  Rooms,  263 
Bowery.  Twenty  or  thirty  years  ago  the  Central 
Opera  House,  207  E.  67th  Street  was  occasionally 
hired  for  concerts  or  amateur  theatricals.  For  several 
seasons  the  Sokols  made  use  of  the  Grand  Central 
Palace,  their  own  club  houses  not  being  spacious 
enough  to  accommodate  the  crowds  on  such  red 
letter   days   as   the   annual   masquerade   balls,   etc. 

49 


CHAPTER  XI 

The  Churches 

The  Catholics  attend  the  Church  of  Our  Lady  of 
Perpetual  Help,  323  E.  61st  Street,  and  the  St.  John 
the  Martyr's,  254  E.  72nd  Street.  The  congregations 
in  both  churches  are  mixed  (Cech-Irish). 

They  first  organized  in  the  basement  of  the  Ger- 
man St.  Nikolaus  Kirche  in  1874.' 

On  December  12,  1875,  the  Rev.  W.  Quinn,  then 
vicar-general,  consecrated  for  their  use  a  small 
church  which  they  had  built  (or  rather  which  they 
had  adapted  from  a  frame  dwelling),  in  East  4th 
Street,  between  Avenues  C  and  D.  This  church  they 
named  after  the  Slavic  apostles,  Cyril  and  Method. 
Since  1886,  the  Redemptorists  have  had  exclusive 
charge  of  Catholic  work  among  them. 

Father  Anton  Krdsny  is  thought  to  have  been 
the  pioneer  priest  in  New  York.  Responding  to  a 
call  from  Cleveland,  he  removed  to  that  city  in  1857. 

The  Protestants  worship  in  the  Jan  Hus  (Pres- 
byterian) Church,  349  East  74th  Street.  This  is  the 
recognized  centre  of  evangelical  endeavor  in  the  east. 
For  a  time  the  Bohemian  Brethren  conducted  serv- 
ices in  Morrisania  (Bronx);  however,  this  work  was 
given  up.  Instead,  a  chapel  was  opened  recently  in 
Long  Island  City. 

The  Madison  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church  on 
73rd  Street  has  a  strong  following  of  Cechs.  One- 
half  of  the  children  attending  the  Sunday  school  are 
said  to  be  of  Cech  parentage. 

The  mother  church  of  the  Catholics  was  estab- 
lished in  St.  Louis  in  1854;  that  of  the  Protestants 
at  Ely,  la.,  fifteen  years  later. 

'Andenken  an  das  Goldene  Jubilaum  der  Grundung  der  St. 
Nikolaus  Kirche.     New  York  1833-1883. 

50 


CHAPTER  XII 

The  "Cech  Library" 

as  the  Webster  Branch  of  the  Public  Library  on 
Avenue  A,  between  77th  and  78th  Streets  is  most 
widely  known,  had  on  its  shelves  1,500  books  when  it 
was  thrown  open  to  the  public  October  24,  1906. 
At  present  it  has  15,000  volumes,  which  makes  it 
the  largest  library  of  Cech  books  in  the  land.  The 
godfather  of  the  library  is  Edwin  W.  Gaillard, 
former  Hbrarian  of  the  Webster  Branch.  A  dis- 
tinguished visitor  from  abroad  said  the  library  was 
"the  brightest  spot  in  the  Cech  quarter."  Under 
the  watchful  eye  of  the  head  Hbrarian,  Miss  Zaidee 
Griffin,  this  "pride  of  the  community"  has  grown  in 
popularity  and  size  from  year  to  year. 

In  the  art  rooms  of  the  Public  Library  (Fifth 
Avenue  and  Forty-Second  Street)  are  old  Cech 
Bibles  and  a  painting  by  the  renowned  Cech  artist, 
Vdclav  Bro2ik,  "Rudolph  II  in  the  Laboratory  of 
his  Alchemist."  The  Metropolitan  Museum  of 
Arts  owns  Brozik*s  "Grandmother*s  Namesday"  and 
"Columbus  before  the  Court  of  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella."  The  subject  of  the  last  named  canvas 
was  reproduced  on  stamps  issued  by  the  Government 
during  the  Chicago  World's  Fair. 


51 


CHAPTER  XIII 

The  Neighborhood  Houses 

in  close  touch  with  the  community  are:  The 
Lenox  Hill,  Seventy-Sixth  Street  Settlement  and 
Jan  Hus  Neighborhood  House.  The  last  named 
adjoins  on  the  west  the  Jan  Hus  Presbyterian 
Church. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

Benevolent  and  Other  Organizations 

Fraternal  organizations  paying  sick  and  death 
benefit  are  an  American  institution.  The  immigrant 
knew  nothing  of  this  kind  of  insurance  on  the  other 
side.  The  standard  policy  calls  for  a  $1,000  insur- 
ance. In  the  past,  "all  being  brothers  and  sisters," 
all  paid  Hke  dues;  this  inequitable  and  obsolete 
system  gave  way  later  to  dues  graded  according  to 
age.  The  total  membership  of  brotherhoods  and 
sisterhoods  in  the  United  States  is  125,000;  in  this 
figure,  however,  are  not  included  Cech  lodges  of 
Odd  Fellows,  Foresters,  Masons,  Woodmen  of  the 
World,  Elks. 

The  strongest  and  oldest  (founded  in  1854)  or- 
ganization is  the  Cech-Slavic  Benevolent  Society, 
known  by  the  initial  letters  CSPS.  (24,000  members). 
The  Western  Cech  Fraternal  Union  has  21,500  mem- 
bers. Union  of  Cech  women  23,000,  Sisterhood  Benev- 
olent Union  12,000,  Central  Union  of  Women  in 
the  U.  S.,  9,600,  Cech  Roman  Catholic  First  Central 
Union  in  the  U.  S.  5,250,  etc.  Meetings  are  con- 
ducted and  records  kept  in  the  national  tongue;  but 
there  are  lodges  composed  of  younger  members  who 
use  English  exclusively,  being  no  longer  able  to 
transact  business  in  the  language  of  their  fathers. 

The  parent  organization  in  New  York  was  the 
Cech  Society  (the  precise  name  is  in  doubt).  Es- 
tablished in  1850,  its  primary  object  was  "to  give 
advice  and  succor  to  incoming  fellow-countrymen." 
The   Cech   Society   existed  but  a  short  time.     The 

63 


next  society  in  New  York  to  take  root  was  the 
Slovanskd  Lipa  of  1861.  Like  the  other  Lipas,  the 
New  York  Lipa  had  been  essentially  a  social  and 
educational  club.  Among  the  things  it  did  was  to 
open  the  first  language  school  in  New  York;  found  a 
circulating  library;  publish  a  newspaper  (the  "New 
Yorkske  Listy").  A  faction  of  dissatisfied  members 
broke  away  from  the  Lipa,  and  on  March  4,  1863, 
organized  the  Cech-Slavic  Sick  Benevolent  Society. 
This  latter  was  the  forerunner  in  New  York  of  the 
many  brotherhoods  and  sisterhoods  which  insure 
members  against  sickness  and  death. 

The  CSPS.  Grand  Lodge  exercises  jurisdiction  in 
New  York  State  over  19  subordinate  lodges  (in 
Greater  New  York,  Rockland  Lake,  Bohemia,  Islip, 
Schenectady,  Gloversville),  with  a  membership  of 
2,500  men  and  1,000  women. 

The  CSBPJ.  lodges  have  500  members  in  Greater 
New  York. 

The  JCD.  (Union  of  Cech  Women)  has  3,214 
members  in  New  York  State. 

The  membership  of  the  lOOF.  is  500. 

The  four  courts  of  Foresters  (in  New  York) 
number  1,368. 

The  Cech  Roman  Catholic  First  Central  Union 
in  the  U.  S.  has  enrolled  450  members  in  4  lodges. 

The  Central  Union  of  Catholic  Women  in  the 
U.  S.,  Ill  members  in  3  chapters. 

The  CSPDS.  (Cech  Slavic  Benevolent  Sister- 
hood) numbers  2,300  members. 

The  JDV.  (The  Union  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
Land)  85  members. 

A  picturesque  body  are  the  Sokols — popularly 
known  as  Blue  Sokols  and  Red  Sokols  from  the  color 
of  the  uniforms  worn  by  them.  Each  club.  Blue  and 
Red,  owns  its  gymnastic  hall  and  each  maintains 

54 


affiliated  clubs  of  singers  and  amateur  stage  folk. 
The  Blues  (the  Gymnastic  Association  Sokol),  se- 
niors, juniors  and  Little  Sokols — these  receive  regular 
class  instruction  the  same  way  as  the  grown-ups — 
number  in  Greater  New  York  2,035.  The  family  of 
the  Reds  (their  official  name  is  Cech  American 
Workingmen's  Sokol)  has  1,118  members.  The 
proudest  day  of  the  Blues  was  May  31,  1916,  when 
84  members  marched  out  of  the  hall  to  Fort  Slocum 
to  volunteer  their  services  to  the  Government.  Not 
one  of  the  84  was  rejected  by  surgeons  for  physical 
disability. 

Then,  of  course,  there  are  labor  unions,  sporting 
clubs,  sharp  shooters,  political,  social  and  church 
organizations.  The  Lidumil  Society  distributes 
each  year  a  modest  purse  to  hospitals  located  nearest 
to  the  community. 


55 


CHAPTER  XV 

The  Artists*  Colony 

Painters  and  illustrators:  A.  V.  Fdbry  (Slovak), 
Harrison  Fisher  (Cech  on  his  father's  side),  Rose 
Kracikova,  Joseph  Lenhard,  Jan  Matulka,  Rudolph 
Mencel,  Joseph  Mrdzek  (peasant  art),  Emanuel  V. 
Nddhern^  (for  years  on  the  art  staff  of  the  New 
York  "Herald"),  Rudolph  Ra^i^ka  (etcher),  J.  C. 
§indel4r. 

Sculptors:     J.Mario  Korbel,  Rose  Kracikova, 
Joseph  M.  Kratina. 

Musicians:  Anica  Fdbry  (Slovak,  soprano),  Marie 
Dvorak  (piano),  Rudolf  Friml  (pianist  and  com- 
poser), Joseph  J.  Kovdrfk  (viola),  Marie  Mikovd 
(piano),  John  J.  Mokrej§  (pianist  and  composer), 
Marie  Novotny  (piano),  Karel  Leitner  (pianist), 
Milan  Lusk  (violinist),  Francis  Pangrdc  (tenor), 
Anna  Fuka-Pangrdc  (organist  and  composer),  Emil 
J.  Poldk  (piano  accompanist),  Teresa  Prochdzka 
(mezzo-soprano),  Rudolf  Pru§a  (pianist),  Alois  Reiser 
(violoncello  and  orchestra  director),  Wenzel  A. 
Raboch  (organist),  Ludvik  Schwab  (pianist),  Josef 
Strdnsk^  (director  of  the  Philharmonic),  Frank 
Trnka  (violinist),  Ladislav  Urban  (pianist  and 
composer),  Bedrich  VASka  (violoncello),  Karel 
Vohnout  (violinist),  Margaret  Volav^  (piano), 
Ludmila  Vojd2ek-Wetch6  (piano).  The  New  York 
Quartet  consists  of  Otokar  Cadek,  first  violin, 
Jaroslav  SiSkovsk^,  second  violin,  Ludvfk  Schwab, 
piano,  Bedrich  VA§ka,  viola. 

Blanche  Yurka,  actress;  Otokar  Bartik,  ballet 
master  and  teacher  of  dancing. 

56 


CHAPTER  XVI 

The  Language  School 

The  liberal  organizations  maintain  the  so-called 
Cech  Free  School,  where  instruction  is  given  to  chil- 
dren in  the  language  of  the  parents.  Classes  are  held 
after  Public  School  hours,  Saturdays  and  Sundays. 
Instruction  is  non-sectarian.  There  are  six  classes 
and  the  number  of  children  attending  the  school 
is  600. 


57 


CHAPTER  XYU 

The  Pioneers 

The  first  arrivals  to  New  York  were  soldiers  who 
had  run  away  in  1847  from  the  Mainz  Fort  in  Ger- 
many, garrisoned  jointly  with  Prussians  and  Aus- 
trians.  Political  refugees,  who  had  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  revolutionary  movement  of  1848-49, 
came  next.    After  1850,  immigration  became  general. 

The  within  register  of  the  pioneers  who  made 
New  York  their  home  in  the  ten  years  between 
1847-57  was  compiled  by  the  author  from  reminis- 
cences of  old  settlers,  private  letters  and  unpublished 
manuscripts.  The  author  does  not  claim  that  the 
register  is  complete;  or,  that  the  life  stories  of  the 
argonauts,  given  in  brief,  are  in  all  particulars  ac- 
curate. The  persons  concerned  are  dead  and  gone, 
even  the  surnames  of  many  of  them  have  been  for- 
gotten. Their  children  who  perhaps  could  supply 
the  missing  particulars  are  scattered  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  country  or  live  out  of 
touch  with  the  nationals  of  their  foreign-born  fathers 
and  grandfathers. 

The  outstanding  occupations  of  the  first  settlers, 
the  reader  will  notice,  were  those  of  cabinet  making, 
tailoring,  jewelry,  watch  making.  Many  are  put 
down  as  being  saloon  keepers;  it  is  safe  to  assume, 
though,  that  not  one  of  the  men  so  designated  was 
a  trained  inn  keeper  from  home.  Music  was  a  com- 
mon vocation.  This  will  not  surprise  one  who  knows 
the  inherited  bent  of  the  people  for  music.  It  is 
impossible  to  state  how  many  were  professionals  and 

58 


how  many  were  amateurs  who  resorted  to  music  as 
a  side-line,  because  of  the  extra  revenue  it  yielded. 
That  cigar  making  is  an  old  trade,  as  old  as  the 
immigration  itself  (as  was  made  clear  in  another 
chapter),  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  Korbel,  Mrdcek 
and  Jurdnek  were  engaged  in  it  years  before  the 
Sedlec  men  had  been  heard  from. 

By  reason  of  their  superior  education  and  be- 
cause, too,  of  personal  sacrifices  for  their  country's 
freedom,  five  or  six  of  the  pioneers  were  looked  up 
to  as  leaders.  Joseph  Kfikava,  Vojta  Naprstek, 
Thomas  Juranek,  Frank  Korbel,  Emanuel  Denk, 
one  of  the  younger  Hubaceks  and  F.  R.  Mricek 
were  the  men  who  stood  head  and  shoulders  above 
others. 

The  first  members  of  the  Slovanska  Lipa  (or- 
ganized, as  set  forth  elsewhere,  1861),  were  all  old 
settlers  though  the  year  of  their  arrival  is  not 
recorded.  The  members  whose  names  one  finds  in 
the  minutes  of  that  society  were:  Franta  Bem  (see 
reference  to  him  in  the  "Cechs  (Bohemians)  in 
America,"  Frank  Bilek,  John  Drahorad,  William 
Jandus,  Joseph  Janecek,  B.  Corner,  Vincent  Havlin, 
Eman  Hermes,  John  Herold,  Leo  Hlawatsch,  Anton 
Hribek,  Frank  Kafka,  Anton  Kohler,  Theo.  Kucha, 
Vaclav  Linke  (according  to  last  accounts  lives  in 
Brooklyn),  Anton  Merunka,  Eman  Netolicky,  Joseph 
Novak,  Joseph  Novotny. 

Frank  Barto§,  jeweler,  arrived  1850.  Went 
west  gold  prospecting;  did  not  return. 

Joseph  Bazant. 

Benedikt,  baker,  lived  in  Bohemia  Village. 

Franta  Bleha  (Blecha),  cabinet  maket.  Member 
Slovanska  Lipa.  Wife  made  artificial  flowers.  City 
Directory  1852-53  registers  him  105  Eldridge  Street. 

59 


Joseph  BoroviCka.  Palda  mentions  him  as  hav- 
ing a  well-stocked  library  of  good  books. 

Anton  Brabenec,  jeweler,  one  term  president  of 
Slovansk^  Lipa.    His  wife  Anna  practiced  midwifery. 

John  Brodsk;^,  of  Beroun,  stave  maker,  arrived 
1849.  Worked  1852  at  106  Norfolk  Street,  lived 
214  5th  Street.  Married  a  German.  John  E. 
Brodsk^  and  Frederick  B.,  lawyers,  were  his  sons. 

Franta  Brodsk^,  rope  maker  from  Beroun, 
(John's  younger  brother),  arrived  1851,  died  1920, 
Mt.  Vernon.  After  Civil  War  established  steam- 
ship ticket  office,  26  Avenue  C.  Son  a  physician. 
President  and  co-founder  Cech-Slavic  Ben.  Soc, 
and  of  Bohemian  Building  Association  No.  1. 
Prominent  in  lodge  activities.  Sold  office  to  his 
nephews,  Frank  Brodsk^  Jr.  and  Frank  A.  Sovdk, 
who  in  turn  sold  it  to  Bank  Bohemia  in  Prague. 
Sailed  on  the  same  steamer  with  Joseph  RehaCek,  of 

Roudnice,  and  Nikodem  Tdbor  and  Stajger 

of  Doma2lice. 

Dr.  Philip  Bruckmann,  born  in  Pilsen,  had  Bo- 
hemain  clientele  in  the  fifties.  In  1848-49  lived  at 
184  Essex  Street.  Marie  Repa  (Mrd^ek)  who  lived 
in  the  doctor's  house  said  that  already  in  1852 
Dr.  B.  was  classed  as  an  old  settler.  The  whole 
family  spoke  English  well. 

Ka§par  Bubele,  carver,  City  Directory,  1858, 
registers  him  from  297  Houston  Street. 

Thomas  Buch^Cek,  tailor.  Descendants  owned 
a  popular  roadhouse  at  Sayville. 

Bunzman,  jeweler,   amateur   singer   and 

musician.     Arrived   in    1850.     Friend   of  Anthony 
Fiala. 

Charles  Burgthal,  called  by  patrons  "Colonel," 
hotel  and  saloon  keeper,  14  City  Hall  Place,  a  gather- 
ing place  of  pioneers.    His  wife  was  a  Cech. 

60 


J.  Cejka.    Left  for  Chicago. 

Joseph  Celinsky  (Cilinsky),  jeweler,  vice-presi- 
dent Cech  Society,  supposed  writer  of  letter  to 
"Prazsky  Vecernf  Listy,"  April  10,  1849.  Arrived 
before  Niprstek. 

Franc  V.  Cerveny,  was  sent  to  America  in  1848 
to  create  a  market  here  for  the  musical  instruments 
manufactured  by  the  Cerven^  family.  Sailed  with 
Naprstek,  whose  intimate  friend  he  was.  Treasurer 
of  Cech  Society,  promoter  of  "Flug  Blatter."  City 
Directory  1851-52,  registers  him  as  maker  of  musical 
instruments  at  16  John  Street.  Taught  music  at 
61  Eldridge  Street.  Left  New  York  1858  or  1859 
for  Milwaukee,  where  he  died  February  6,  1907, 
aged  81.    Married  a  Hubacek. 

Joseph  Cizek,  (City  Directory  1856),  shoemaker, 
shop  211  Grand,  house  221  Stanton  Street.  Or- 
ganizer with  his  brothers  of  social  activities;  member 
Cech  Society. 

John  Cizek,  tailor,  (City  Directory  1855  Cezik, 
lived  58  Sheriff  Street),  active  in  lodge  life.  Member 
Cech  Society,  member  Slovanska  Lipa;  at  one  time 
its  librarian.  With  two  other  brothers  arrived  with 
Niprstek. 

Franta  Cizek,  cabinet  maker,  member  Cech 
Society.     Brother  of  Joseph  and  John. 

Franta  Chrastil,  librarian  Slovanski  Lipa,  suc- 
ceeding Werther,  who  entered  army. 

Anton  Chwatal  of  Hostomice,  arrived  1848,  one  of 
the  founders  Cech  Society,  journeyman  miller, 
musician.  City  Directory  1856,  registers  him  from 
82  Delancey  Street. 

Emanuel  Denk,  from  Pilsen,  removed  to  St. 
Louis.  Died  in  Missouri  shortly  after  Civil  War. 
Borecky  describes  him  as  the  "best  educated  Cech 
in  St.  Louis."    Arrived  1847. 

61 


Domordzek,  potter,  came   1849  or   1850. 

Josef  Dont,  born  at  KoSetice,  in  the  Cdslav  dis- 
trict, 1828.  Gardener  from  home,  he  learned  house 
painting  in  Kohout's  shop.  Member  Cech  Society. 
Arrived  1847  on  same  vessel  with  E.  Denk  and  V. 
Pohl.  After  18  years  left  New  York,  sojourned  in 
Terre  Haute,  Chicago,  West  Point  (Neb.),  settled 
permanently  in  Santa  Rosa,  Cal.,  where  he  died  1906. 

John  Duchoslav,  cabinet  maker  from  Domazlice. 
Went  to  Manitowoc,  Wis.,  later  removed  to  Chicago, 
where  he  died  in  1870. 

Jakub  Du§enes  (Duchenes),  born  1836,  Prague, 
arrived  1857,  served  in  Sickels'  Excelsior  Brigade; 
at  Gettysburg  lost  a  leg.  Died  in  Soldier's  Home. 
(Almanac  Amerikdn  1890). 

Joseph  Dvofdk,  settled  in  1859,  Bohemia  Village. 

Dydlam,  cabinet  maker. 

Anthony  Fiala,  according  to  N.  Y.  *'Sun," 
January  27,  1897,  died  648  Fulton  Street,  Brooklyn, 
59.  Served  in  Civil  War;  Lieutenant  Cavalry. 
Father  of  the  polar  traveler  of  that  name.  Jeweler 
by  trade,  arrived  1850  with  VlCek,  his  uncle.  Ex- 
plorer Anthony  Fiala  was  born  in  Jersey  City  Heights 
in  a  cottage  owned  by  F.  Brodsk^.  His  mother  was 
Anna  Kohout,  sister  of  Mrs.  Brodsk;^;  she  died  when 
the  boy  was  15  months  old.  After  his  mother's 
death  young  Fiala  was  brought  up  by  the  daughter 
of  Franta  Kohout  (toy  maker).  Up  to  his  eighth 
year  he  knew  no  other  language  but  Cech.  (State- 
ment Mrs.  Brodsk;^). 

Joseph  Fi§er,  from  Turnov,  baker,  arrived  1849 
or  1852,  went  to  Chicago;  became  a  grocer,  then  a 
saloon  keeper. 

Matthew  Fi§er,  resident  of  Bohemia  Village. 

John  Fir^  (Firtsch)  from  Strakonice,  arrived 
with  parents,  1850.     Made  cigars.     Brother  Ferdi- 

62 


nard  was  a  police  officer.    Member  Slovanska  Lipa. 
Left  for  Traverse  City,  Mich. 

Grellert,    American,    married   Anna,    the 

widow  of  Joseph  Cizek,  n6e  Erben. 

Hacek,  pianist. 

Karel  Hak,  shoemaker.  City  Directory,  1858, 
registers  him  from  86  Sheriff  Street. 

Kaspar  Hedvabny  was  about  18-20  years  old 
when  he  settled  in  New  York.  Worked  for  more 
than  30  years  as  machinist  for  Hoe  &  Co.  Elected 
president  Slovanskd  Lipa,  March  14,  1861.  Died 
1891. 

Alois  (or  Louis)  Hlasivec,  from  Prague,  journey- 
man brewer,  co-founder  Cech  Society,  member 
Slovanska  Lipa,  owned  a  saloon  in  Ludlow  Street, 
in  which  Cech  societies  used  to  hold  meetings. 
Followed  Korbel  to  California. 

Hocker,  baker. 

Hoffman,  butcher. 

Houska,  farmer,  Bohemia  Village. 

Anton    Hranitzky,    furrier,    Greenwich    Street, 

City  Directory,  1858. 

Hubacek  brothers,  supposedly  natives  of  Chot^- 
bor,  (spelled  also  Hubatchek,  Hubaczek)  were  the 
best  known  family  in  Cech  New  York.  Andrew  ar- 
rived November,  1848,  and  was  vice-president  of  the 
Cech  Society.  City  Directory,  1852-53  registers 
Andrew  H.  as  engraver,  86  East  Broadway.  In 
1878,  he  went  to  San  Francisco,  to  join  his  son 
Joseph,^  established  as  jeweler  in  that  city.  Due 
to  unfortunate  investments  he  lost  all  and  died  in  a 
poorhouse  in  Santa  Rosa,  Sonoma  County,  1901. 
Joseph  H.  Hubatcheck,  cap  maker,  lived  73    First 

^Joseph  Hubacek  in  1874  visited  Chicago  and  told  a  newspaper 
reporter  about  a  trip  he  undertook  in  1857  to  San  Francisco  via 
Panama.    The  "Slavic,"  March  18,  1874. 

63 


Avenue,  City  Directory,  1850-51.  The  oldest  of  the 
brothers  (John  ?)  was  a  sexton  in  a  Methodist 
Church.  Removed  to  Rochester,  where  he  is  said 
to  have  introduced  a  prune  tree,  imported  from 
Bohemia.  Descendants  live  in  Rochester.  August 
H.  was  the  owner  of  a  widely  known  saloon  in  Fifth 
Street,  which  Cech  societies  purchased,  converting 
it  into  a  National  Hall.  No  male  descendants  are 
known  to  reside  in  New  York. 

Hvgzda,  alias  Stern,  used  to  have  a  cabinet 

maker's  shop  in  East  4th  Street. 

Jaeger,    tailor    and    musician    of    Kutnd 

Hora,  arrived  1852.  His  son,  John  Nepomuk  J. 
(baptismal  name  Charles)  was  a  concert  violinist, 
before  he  entered  a  seminary.  He  rose  to  be  Abbot 
of  the  St.  Prokop  Abbey,  Lisle,  111.  The  Rev. 
Jaeger  removed  to  Chicago  in  1865.  City  Directory, 
1849-50,  mentions  John  Jaeger,  tailor,  58  Avenue  C. 

Frank  A.  Jannicky,  piano  maker,  lived  239  East 
9th  Street.     City  Directory,  1858-59. 

Joseph  JedliSka,  born  1833,  in  Kutnd  Hora. 
Arrived  1852.  Roomed  in  Eldridge  Street,  with 
HubdCek,  Cerven^  and  Bleha.  Boarded  at  Kost- 
liv^'s  with  J.  Fi§er,  baker,  and  with  Kan^k  and 
Kohout.  In  1857  moved  to  Bohemia  Village.  Mem- 
bers of  his  family  own  a  plumber  shop  at  Sayville. 
Jedli^ka  prepared  a  careful  list  of  pioneers  who 
lived  in  New  York  prior  to  his  arrival.  (Almanac 
Amerikdn,  1896). 

Jirsa. 

Thomas  Jurdnek,  "apostate  priest,"  as  he  de- 
scribed himself,  arrived  1849.  Worked  as  cigar 
maker.  Settled  in  Wisconsin,  where  he  died  (in 
Cooperstown)  March  5,  1890.  (Jurdnek's  life  story 
is  set  forth  in  detail  in  the  "Cechs  in  America.") 

64 


Kaderdbek,  worked  on   a  farm  in   New 

Jersey. 

Frank  Kdlal,  established  a  residence  in  Chicago. 

John  Kafi4k,  baker,  Joseph  JedliCka's  friend. 

Vdclav  (William)  KaSpar,  native  of  Holice,  ar- 
rived November  3,  1853.  Worked  as  laborer  in 
brickyard  at  Haverstraw,  then  as  baker.  Served  in 
Civil  War;  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Port  Hudson. 
Removing  to  Chicago  he  became  grocer,  agent, 
notary,  and  finally  partner  in  the  banking  house  of 
Kaspar  &  Karel.  Is  president  of  the  Kaspar  State 
Bank,  the  largest  Cech  controlled  institution  in  the 
country.  Kaspar  knew  in  New  York  shoemaker 
Wild,  Kacerovsky^  and  Bezdek.  War  ended,  he  went 
west,  to  Chicago. 

Albert  Karel,  proprietor  of  a  saloon,  426  Broome 
Street,  City  Directory,  1858-59. 

Peter  Kohlbeck,  German-Bohemian  from  Neu- 
markt,  in  the  Domazlice  district,  arrived  1850. 
Proprietor  of  photograph  gallery  at  229  Bowery. 
First  Bohemian  photographer;  Joseph  Krikava 
learned  the  art  from  him. 

Franta  Kohout  of  Novd  KdynS,  ran  away  from 
the  Mainz  Fort  either  in  1847  or  1848.  House 
painter  and  toy  maker.  Active  in  lodge  circles. 
Died  in  Greenpoint,  Brooklyn. 

Joseph  Kohout,  (Franta's  younger  brother), 
shoemaker.  One  daughter  married  Franta  Brodsky, 
the  other  Joseph  Bazant.  A  son,  Joseph,  worked 
for  the  Mosler  Safe  Co. 

Joseph  Kolar,  reckoned  as  an  old  settler  of 
Chicago.  • 

John  H.  Konvalinka,  member  of  the  firm  Kon- 
valinka  &  Konvalinka,  furriers  in  Maiden  Lane,  was 
born  in  Bohemia,  died  208  Park  Place,  Brooklyn, 
June,  1896,  aged  75  years.    (Obituary,  N.  Y.  "Sun," 


June  5,  1896).  Arrived  1849  and  first  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Division  Street.  Employed  Cech 
furriers.  The  firm  still  exists.  Descendants  live 
in  Brooklyn  and  New  York. 

Frank  Korbel,  born  Bechyn,  1830,  died  Prague, 
1919.  As  an  undergraduate  of  the  Technical  School 
in  Prague,  took  part  in  political  activities.  Crossed 
the  frontier  disguised  as  a  woman.  Came  to  New 
York,  1849.  Learned  to  make  cigars;  one  of  the 
promoters  of  the  cigar  trade  in  N.  Y.  About  1862 
went  to  San  Francisco.  There  he  manufactured 
cigar  boxes,  acquired  large  redwood  timber  interests 
in  Humboldt  County,  vineyards  in  Sonoma.  Pub- 
lished the  San  Francisco  "Wasp."  Had  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  the  richest  Cech  in  country.  For  a 
time  served  as  Austro-Hungarian  Consul.  Retiring 
from  business,  he  removed  to  Prague,  where  he  died 
in  1919.  Died  childless  and  relatives  are  contesting 
(at  the  time  of  writing)  his  will.  The  other  New  York 
Korbels  are  said  not  to  be  related. 

Ernest  Korbel,  blacksmith,  17  Rivington  Street, 
City  Directory,  1852-53. 

Henry  Korbel,  tailor,  98  Pitt  Street,  City  Direc- 
tory,  1852-53. 

Thomas  Korbel,  cabinet  maker,  265  E.  3rd 
Street,  City  Directory,  1852-53. 

Kosek,  musician,  arrived  1848.     Boarded 

at  one  time  with  the  Cerveny  family. 

Kotr^,  native  of  Pelhrimov,  performer  on 

the  zither.     Arrived  before  F.  Brodsk^. 

John  Koula,  born  1827,  Mnichovice,  near  Prague. 
Co-founder  in  1854,  with  his  cousin  John,  Joseph 
Cviger,  John  Vdvra,  John  Kratochvil,  Mat.  Kumbd- 

66 


lek  and  Frank  Vanek  of  Bohemia.^  Cabinet  maker 
and  musician.  After  three  years  removed  to  Boston, 
being  the  first  Cech  immigrant  in  that  city.  (Al- 
manac Amerikdn,  1903). 

John  Koula,  stave  maker,  from  Prestice,  cousin 
of  the  founder  of  Bohemia  Village.  Went  west  with 
Hubacek.     Arrived    1854. 

Kovanda,  Bohemia  Village. 

Anton  Krasny,  Catholic  priest,  was  incarcerated 
in  a  military  prison  from  1849  to  1857.  Arrived  in 
New  York  the  year  he  received  his  pardon  (1857). 
Removed  to  Cleveland.  In  New  York  Krasny 
performed  the  marriage  ceremony  of  his  friend  and 
fellow-prisoner  from  Prague,  F.  R.  Mracek. 

John  Kratochvil  of  Ondrejov,  arrived  toward  the 
end  of  1854.     Co-founder  of  Bohemia. 

Wenceslaus  Krechtler,  cigar  store  proprietor, 
157  Canal  Street,  City  Directory,  1858. 

Joseph  Kfikava,  (relatives  spell  it  Krikawa), 
born  March  25,  1821,  at  Ouboc,  near  Nova  Kdyne, 
student  Prague  Polytechnic.  Participated  in  the 
revolution  of  1848.  Arrived  1849.  Member  Cech 
Society.  Worked  as  a  laborer  on  a  farm;  proprietor 
ambrotypes,  57  Avenue  B;  learned  ambrotyping  in 
Kohlbeck's  studio;  on  the  advice  of  his  friend  Korbel 
opened  a  wine  shop  at  50  Avenue  B.  His  place  was 
patronized  by  the  best  people  in  town,  who  called 
the  patriarchal  looking  proprietor  "Grandfather." 
Died  May  19, 1888,  unmarried.  His  younger  brother 
Karel,  had  been  a  renowned  singer  in  Germany 
(Helden  tenor);  Martin,  still  another  brother,  a 
saloon  and  boarding  house  keeper. 

^Bohemia  in  Suffolk  County,  New  York,  has  a  number  of 
namesakes:  Bohemia,  Tom  Green,  Tex.;  Bohemia,  Tehama,  Cal.; 
Bohemia,  Escambia,  Fla.;  Bohemia,  Plaquemines,  Fla.;  Bohemia, 
Lane,  Ore.;  Bohemia,  Pike,  Pa. 

67 


John  Kubin  (Gubin),  jeweler,  357  Houston 
Street.  Arrived  November,  1848.  Fellow  passenger 
of  Andrew  HubaCek. 

Kuc^era,  furrier,  native  of  PreStice,  employed 

for  some  time  by  Lassak. 

Kri§tof  J.  Kuchar,  bookkeeper,  27  Bowery. 
City  Directory,  1851-52. 

Kulda,   shoemaker,   arrived    about  1852. 

Rudolf  Kysela,  shoemaker,  native  of  Humpolec, 
arrived  1850.  In  1852  went  to  St.  Louis,  opening  a 
saloon  there.  Farmed  for  a  time,  in  1866  returned 
to  New  York.  Died  1888.  Zealous  amateur  actor; 
his  two  daughters  in  their  time  were  stars  of  the 
amateur  stage.  The  elder  married  Joseph  Jan^c^ek,  a 
typesetter  on  the  "Dglnicke  Listy,"  later  notary 
and  steamship  agent,  who  settled  in  Humboldt 
County,  Cal.  The  younger  (born  in  Buffalo),  mar- 
ried Mr.  Weinfurth,  a  New  York  club  steward. 
Her  second  husband  was  Major  Zdruba  (of  the 
Austrian  Army)  in  Pilsen.  Kysela's  brother,  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Cleveland  (lately  deceased), 
had  also  been  a  stage  enthusiast. 

Francis  W.  Lassak  (Vlas^k),  furrier,  started  at 
376  Broome  Street;  later  owned  a  shop  at  19  John 
Street.  City  Directory  registers  him  as  early  as 
1837.  Did  not  associate  with  his  countrymen  in  a 
social  way.    Wealthiest  New  York  Cech  in  his  time. 

John  Laukota,  piano  maker,  5  Mercer  Street, 
City  Directory,  1851-52. 

Vdcslav  LeStina,  deserter  from  the  Mainz  Fort, 
arrived  either  1847  or  1848.  One  of  the  founders  of 
the  Slovansk^  Lfpa. 

J.  Link  (Linke  or  Linka),  member  of  Cech 
Society.  According  to  HubdCek  joined  the  settle- 
ment in  St.  Louis. 

Frank  Livora,  shoemaker. 


Jan  Lucek,  uncle  of  Marie  MrdCek,  arrived  with 
the  Repa  family  in  1853. 

Max  Maretzek,  an  impresario  of  note  in  his 
day,  who  in  1858  introduced  Adelina  Patti,  was  born 
in  Brno,  Moravia.  Mrs.  Mrd^ek  met  him  a  number 
of  times  in  Dr.  Bruckman's  house.  The  author  has 
had  correspondence  with  Maretzek.  Immigrated 
in  1848. 

Anthony  Mattjescheck  (MatSjSek),  tailor,  66 
Avenue  A,  City  Directory,  1856. 

William  Mattjescheck  (Matejc^ek),  tailor.  Avenue 
A,  City  Directory,  1856. 

Fred  Mathuscheck,  paino  maker,  34  Third 
Avenue,  City  Directory,  1856.  The  Mathushek 
Piano  takes  its  name  after  him. 

Mecholup,  plumber  and  tinsmith  in  Grand 

Street.  Joseph  Jedli^ka  of  Sayville  worked  for  him 
upon  his  arrival.     (Almanac  Amerikdn,  1896). 

Melichar,  teacher  of  piano.    Vdclav  Pohl 

mentions  him  as  having  been  in  New  York  before 
him. 

Franta  Rostislav  Mrd^ek,  born  1828,  in  Nena- 
konice,  Moravia,  arrived  in  the  spring  of  1854, 
went  to  St.  Louis,  1861,  to  edit  "Ndrodnf  Noviny'* 
there.  Died  Odessa,  Russia,  February  3,  1896. 
Attended  Prague  Technical  School.  For  political 
agitation  sentenced  to  20  years  to  Kufstein  prison. 
Served  almost  5  years;  amnestied,  came  to  New 
York.  With  J.  Birta  Letovsk^  traveled  to  Russia, 
to  found  there  a  New  Bohemia.  The  plan  mis- 
carried. In  New  York,  where  he  learned  to  make 
cigars,  he  married  Marie  Repa,  a  highly  intelligent 
girl.  Served  as  volunteer  in  Civil  War,  enlisting  at 
St.  Louis. 

Marie  Mrdcek,  nee  Repa,  born  1840,  in  Hora2- 
dovice  of  excellent  family,  believed  to  be  still  living 

69 


in  Odessa.  Married  to  Frank  Mr^^ek  in  New  York, 
1857,  by  Father  Krdsn^.  Witnesses  to  marriage  were 
Frank  Korbel  and  Anthony  Fiala,  father  of  the 
arctic  traveler.  Received  a  widow*s  pension  from 
the  U.  S.  Government.  Knew  personally  every 
pioneer  of  note  in  her  time. 

Vojta  Ndprstek,  law  student,  arrived  in  De- 
cember, 1848,  as  political  refugee,  remaining  in  New 
York  two  years.  Organizer  and  librarian  of  the 
Cech  Society,  editor  of  "Flug  Blatter"  in  Milwaukee, 
sponsor  of  first  Cech  newspaper  in  U.  S.  Returned 
to  the  old  country  after  eight  years.  Founder  with 
his  wife  in  Prague  of  the  Naprstek  Industrial  Mu- 
seum.    Died  in  Prague,  1894. 

Nejedl^,  of  Velvavy,  watch  maker,  lived 

in  Clinton  Street.  Arrived  1850.  Nicknamed  the 
Old  Honest. 

John  Nohavec,  a  settler  of  Bohemia  Village. 

Mat^j  Nohavec,  a  settler  of  Bohemia  Village. 

William  Nowak,  shoemaker,  94  Forsyth  Street. 

Fred  Nowatschek,  tailor,  68  Norfolk  Street. 

— '- —  Osoba,  weaver,  military  deserter  from 
Mainz,  arrived  1847  or  1848.  Kept  a  saloon  at 
327  E.  5th  Street;  at  other  time  cigar  store  in  Pitt 
Street. 

Joseph  Vozdb  (Woz^b,  Oz^b),  arrived  1853-54. 
Kept  White  Lion  Inn,  133  Essex  Street. 

John  Pechan,  tailor,  first  treasurer  Slovanskd 
Lfpa,   brother-in-law,  Joseph  Jedlii^ka  of  Sayville. 

John  Plocek,  Korbel's  intimate.  Member  Cech 
Society.  Removing  to  Chicago,  he  furthered 
Ndprstek's  plan  for  Cech  paper. 

Vdclav  Pohl,  arrived  1849,  first  president  Cech 
Society.  Remained  in  New  York  till  1852.  Changed 
occupations  and  residences;  expert  cabinet  maker 
from  home,  he  was  milkman,  grocer,  saloon  keeper, 

70 


etc.  Wherever  he  went  took  prominent  part  in 
racial  and  social  activities.  Married  a  Hubdcek. 
Knew  Korbel  from  Prague.  Shipped  on  same  vessel 
with  Dont.  Born  1817  at  Plasy,  died  Kewaunee, 
Wis.,  1893. 

Vojta  Pohl,  tailor,  Vaclav's  brother,  manufac- 
tured in  Portland,  Ore.,  patent  medicines.  Died 
1889. 

Anton  Pokorny,  Major  Eighth,  and  Lieut.-Col. 
Seventh  N.  Y.  Inf.  Relationship  to  his  namesakes 
not  ascertained. 

Anton  Pokorny,  cap  maker,  213  Avenue  B. 

Gabriel  Pokorn^,  turner,  70  Willett  Street. 

Louis  Pokorny,  fruits,  6  Dey  Street. 

Michael  Pokorny,  shoemaker,  186  Laurens  Street. 

Frank  P?ibramsk^,  tailor  from  Horazdovice. 
About  1854  appeared  in  Chicago,  where  he  died. 

John  Prochazka,  importer,  9  Bowery,  City 
Directory,    1855-56.  There   are   several   of  this 

name;  a  furrier,  cigar  maker,  watch  maker. 

Emanuel  Prucha,  led  the  opposition  in  the 
Slovanska  Lipa  and  organized  the  Cecho-Slavic 
Ben.  Society  May  4,  1863. 

Joseph  Rehd2ek,  merchant's  clerk  of  Roudnice, 
member  Slovanskd  Lipa,  volunteer  Civil  War. 
Fellow  passenger  with  Brodsky.  Arrived  1851. 
Married  Kohlbeck's  daughter. 

Frank  Repa.  .Arrived  with  family  in  1853.  One 
son  died  at  sea.  Two  sons,  Vaclav  and  Thomas, 
were  killed  in  Civil  War;  youngest  son  died  at  sea. 
Daughter  Marie  married  F.  R.  MrdCek. 

John  Rosa,  tailor,  citizen  of  Bohemia  Village. 

Sadek,  of  Kutna  Hora,  cabinet  maker,  co- 
founder  Cech  Society.  Manufacturer  of  shutters 
in  East  14th  Street,  between  Avenue  A  and  B.    In 

71 


his  shop  Vodwdrka  of  New  London  learned   that 
trade.     Lived  in  New  York  before  Brodsk;^. 

Mary  Schadek,  millinery,  494  Eighth  Avenue. 
City  Directory,  1853-54.  Marie  MrdCek  clerked  in 
her  establishment. 

Schlesinger,    butcher    from    Doma2lice, 

popularly  known  as  "tdta"  (father). 

Franta  Schwimbersk^  (Svimbersk^),  cabinet 
maker,  arrived  1 850-5 L  Two  sons  and  daughters 
immigrated  shortly  after. 

Joseph  Sedl4k  (also  SedldCek),  organ  player, 
teacher  of  music,  from  Doma2lice,  member  Cech 
Society,  removed  to  Portland.  According  to  one 
report  went  back  to  Bohemia,  dying  there. 

Joseph  Schipek  (Sipek),  cabinet  maker,  became 
prominent  in  St.  Louis,  as  lodge  organizer.  Vod- 
wdrka  mentions  another  Sipek,  Frank,  "who,  when 
he  saved  sufficient  money  removed  to  Kossuth  town, 
Wis.,  buying  a  farm  there." 

F.  Sklfba,  member  Cech  Society,  first  member 
to  die. 

John  Smid  (Smith,  Schmidt)  from  Strakonice, 
arrived  1 850-5 L  His  wife  kept  a  boarding  house  in 
Essex  Street.  Brodsk^,  FiSer,  JedliCka,  boarded 
there.  Co-founder  of  Cech  Society.  Organized  a 
strike  of  fellow-countrymen  working  in  Brooklyn 
brickyards.  Removed  to  Michigan  (Traverse 
City  ?),  where  he  is  said  to  have  done  well. 

Vojta  Spdlen^,  lived  for  a  time  in  Bohemia  Vil- 
lage. 

Joseph  §tfpek,  cabinet  maker,  mother  was  a 
miller's  widow  from  Kourim.  Daughter  Lena  mar- 
ried Karel  J.  Zdrdhal.  Brother  Frank  was  in  the 
same  trade. 

Suda,  member  Cech  Society. 

Joseph  Sv^rdk,  amateur  actor. 
72 


Nikodem  Tdbor,  co-founder  Cech  Society.  Fel- 
low passenger  with  Brodsky.     Arrived  1851. 

Tancer,  tailor. 

Tolar,  tailor  from  Horazdovice,  removed  in 

1857  to  St.  Louis.  His  oldest  daughter  married  one 
of  the  Cizek  brothers. 

Wenzel  Tvrdy  (descendants  spell  it  Twidy), 
tailor  or  furrier  of  Roudnice,  arrived  1847  or  1848. 
City  Directory,  1851-52  registers  him  from  91  Wil- 
let  Street.  His  son,  born  the  same  year  he  im- 
migrated, was  "the  first  American  baby  of  Cech 
parents.'*    Descendants  live  in  Westchester  County* 

Tuma    (Touzimsk^  ?),    jocularly    called 

"Cech  Columbus,"  an  allusion  to  his  early  landing, 
wrote  to  a  Prague  paper  he  was  the  proprietor  of  a 
casino  in  New  York.  Deserted  from  the  Mainz  Fort, 
1847.  Learned  to  roll  cigars.  Disappeared  from 
public  notice. 

Wenzel  Turba,  druggist,  22  Avenue  C.  City 
Directory,  1856-57. 

Tuzar,   liquor   dealer,   non-commissioned 

officer  in  the  Austrian  Army. 

Joseph  Urban,  maker  musical  instruments  from 
Krdlove  Hradec,  musician,  arrived  1850  ( ?).  Kor- 
beFs  friend,  went  1860  to  California.     Died  there. 

John  Vdvra  (Wdvra),  born  1819  in  Kourim  dis- 
trict, John  Kratochvil  and  John  Koula,  from  Ond?e- 
jov,  arrived  in  1854,  were  co-founders  of  Bohemia, 
L.  L'  (Almanac  Amerikdn,  1896). 

^Writing  to  the  author  from  Traverse  City,  Mich.,  Mrs.  Mary 
Rutner,  says:  "I  wonder  if  it  would  interest  you  to  know  that  among 
the  immigrants  who  came  on  the  same  transport  with  John  Vdvra, 
John  Koula  and  John  Kratochvil,  were  Frank  Kratochvil  (cousin  of 
John),  Joseph,  Anton  and  John  VVilhelm  (see  him),  Anton  Svoboda, 
Joseph  Sholda,  Frank  Pohoral,  Kyselka,  Lada,  Novotny,  Vdclav 
Bartdk  and  Joseph  Knizek.  They  with  their  families  settled  either 
in  Traverse  City  or  on  farms  near  here;  their  grandchildren  are 
doctors,  school  teachers,  music  teachers,  merchants.     Mrs.  Mary 

73 


Charles  Vinick^,  brewer  from  Kladruby,  born 
1803,  settled  in  N.  Y.  1853.  Had  six  children.  Caro- 
line (born  (1840),  Johanna  (1842),  Emanuel  (1846), 
John  (1848),  Stanislav  (1853).  The  oldest  son  was  a 
"map  maker  downtown,'*  singer,  the  moving  spirit 
of  the  Slovanskd  Lipa.  Frank  Vinicky  in  his  youth 
a  well-known  Sokol,  was  born  in  New  York,  1857 
and  married  the  daughter  of  Tiffany's  foreman, 
Lindauer. 

Wishek  (Vi§ek),  musician. 

Vl2ek,  goldsmith,  uncle  of  Anthony  Fiala. 

Arrived  1850;  believed  to  have  returned  to  the  old 
country. 

Joseph  F.  Vodw^rka.  Window  shutter  maker,  is 
living  in  New  London,  Conn.  Arrived  September, 
1852.  Born  at  Zdmrsky,  1832.  First  Lieut.  Co.  C, 
1st  Reg.  Missouri  Vol.  R.  C.  (more  than  half  were 
Cechs). 

Weininger,  cabinet  maker,  arrived  about 

1854. 

Rudolph  Wenzlik,  furrier,  3  Vandewater  Street, 
City  Directory,  1854-55. 

Frederick  Werther,  by  birth  a  Slovak,  enthusias- 
tic lodge  worker,  first  librarian  and  charter  member 
Slovanskd  Lipa,  Civil  War  veteran.  At  the  time 
he  volunteered  he  sold  his  saloon  to  Hub^^ek;  upon 
returning  he  re-opened  in  Rivington  Street.  Having 
gone  west,  all  trace  of  him  was  lost. 

John  Wild  and  Anton  Wild,  members  Slovanskd 
Lipa. 

Knizek  Buck,  daughter  of  Joseph  Knizek,  became  a  writer  of  no 
mean  ability.  After  her  death  her  poems  were  published  entitled 
"Songs  of  the  Northland,"  and,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  Mrs.  Buck  is 
the  only  Cech  who  has  a  volume  of  poems  written  in  English,  to  her 
credit.  Mrs.  Mathilda  Bartdk  McManus  (daughter  of  Vdclav 
Bartdk)  teaches  music  in  a  normal  school.  Emanuel  Wilhelm 
(Anton's  son)  is  our  present  postmaster.  Frank  Kyselka,  now  in 
Montana,  is  superintendent  of  a  government  Indian  School." 

74 


Wilhelm,  pro  tern.  secY?  Slovanski  Lipa, 

1861.     Settled  in  Traverse  City,  Mich. 

John  Zajicek,  first  secretary  Slovanska  Lipa, 
newspaper  correspondent,  veteran  Civil  War,  saloon 
keeper. 

John  Zitek,  at  one  time  president  of  Slovanski 
Lipa.    Living  in  Mt.  Vernon,  N.  Y. 

Karel  J.  Zdrahal,  saddler,  leather  strap  maker, 
arrived  about  1851.     Died  in  San  Francisco. 


75 


THE 
SLOVAKS  IN  AMERICA 


By  THOMAS  CAPEK,  Jr.,  A.M, 

THE  REV.  LUDEVIT  A.  ENGLER 
REV.  C.  L.  ORBACH 
CLEMENT  IHRISKY 

Assisting 


Published  by  the  Czechoslovak  Section  of  America's  Making,  Inc. 
NEW  YORK,  1921 


PART  II 

THE  SLOVAKS 

FOREWORD 

In  this  part  the  authors  shall  aim  to  give  an 
account  of  the  life  of  the  Slovaks  with  particular 
reference  to  their  various  contributions  to  America 
and  to  diffuse  a  sympathetic  understanding  of  them, 
submerged  as  they  are  more  or  less  by  circumstances. 
Unfortunately,  the  bibliography  necessary  for  a 
work  of  this  sort  is  very  meagre.  The  authors  have 
made  use  of  various  government  publications  for 
their  statistics  and  have  filled  in  the  gaps  by  their 
knowledge  and  experience  acquired  while  living 
among  the  Slovaks.  No  use  has  been  made  of  the 
new  Census  of  1920.  At  the  time  of  the  writing 
only  incomplete  preliminary  announcements  have 
been  published.  Furthermore,  the  Cechs  and  the 
Slovaks  (quite  rightly)  are  tabulated  as  one  by  the 
enumerators,  making  a  distinction  difficult. 

If  we  of  Cech  and  Slovak  blood  but  of  American 
birth  or  citizenship  are  true  to  the  best  that  is  in  us, 
we  cannot  fail  but  have  a  certain  feeling  of  sympathy 
and  interest  in  the  accounts  of  our  fathers  who  have 
come  to  this  country  hoping  for  betterment,  and 
have  found  it. 

It  is  to  the  memory  of  those  pioneers,  in  recogni- 
tion of  the  trials  they  have  been  through,  that  this 
story  of  their  contribution  to  American  life  is 
dedicated. 

79 


CHAPTER  I 

Historical  Background  and  Causes  of 
Emigration 

The  Slovaks,  a  branch  of  the  Slav  family,  num- 
bering over  2,000,000  people,  have  a  past  which  is 
veiled  with  obscurity.  It  is  supposed  that  they 
migrated  to  their  country  at  the  base  of  the  Car- 
pathian Mountains  toward  the  end  of  the  5th 
century.  In  863  they  embraced  Christianity — 
the  first  of  the  Slavs  to  do  so — from  the  hands  of  the 
apostles  Cyril  and  Method.  What  is  known  in 
history  as  the  Great  Moravian  Kingdom  had  its 
capital  in  the  town  of  Nitra  nestled  beneath  the 
Tatra  Mountains,  for  it  was  Slovakia  which  then 
formed  the  nucleus  of  this  powerful  kingdom.  Two 
centuries  later,  when  Moravia  passed  under  Magyar 
rule  and  merged  into  the  Hungarian  Crown,  the 
political  existence  of  the  Slovaks  disappeared. 
From  that  time  on  they  struggle  to  preserve  their 
national  consciousness,  while  on  the  other  hand, 
the  Hungarian  Government  attempted  to  Magyarize 
its  various  races.  In  the  fall  of  the  House  of  Haps- 
burg  the  Slovaks  and  their  blood-brothers,  the 
Cechs,  consummate  their  triumph. 

So  nearly  related  are  the  Slovaks  to  the  Cechs 
that  they  may  be  said  to  be  one  people.  Geographi- 
cally, they  are  contiguous;  the  history  of  their 
oppression  is  similar.  There  may  be  difference  of 
opinion  on  the  closeness  ot  their  respective  languages. 
Here,  as  often  is  the  case,  arguments  have  been 
influenced  by  religious  and  political  considerations. 


It  cannot  be  denied,  however,  that  they  both  under- 
stand and  read  the  other's  language  with  equal 
facility.  The  Slovak  tongue  itself  may  be  divided 
into  three  dialects.  Safarik,  the  authority  on  Slavic 
antiquities  distinguishes  pure  Slovak,  from  that 
tinged  with  Polish  or  Moravian  expressions.  Dur-' 
ing  the  past  half  century,  there  has  been  a  movement 
to  develop  Slovak  as  a  distinct  language  and  liter- 
ature. 

The  Slovaks  are  found  in  what  was  formerly 
known  as  the  Hungarian  uplands,  south  of  the 
Carpathians.  It  is  a  mountainous  country,  little 
exploited,  and  offering  boundless  possibilities  as  to 
natural  resources.  For  their  livelihood,  the  peasants 
depend  mainly  on  farming  and  herding,  out  of  which, 
as  a  rule,  they  seldom  eke  out  more  than  a  mere 
existence.  For  a  long  time  the  little  town  of  Tur- 
ciansky  Sv.  Martin  was  the  cultural  center  of  the 
national  movement.  It  was  there  that  the  leading 
journal  was  published  and  literature  and  art  col- 
lected in  a  National  Museum.  Independence 
achieved,  the  interest  of  the  Slovaks  is  now  centered 
in  the  commercial  town  of  Bratislava  (Pressburg) 
with  its  population  of  70,000  advantageously  situated 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  Danube  some  34  miles 
southeast  of  Vienna. 

What  brought  the  Slovak  to  America  ? 

Hungary  has  always  been  a  country  of  large 
landed  estates.  The  peasant  very  often  too  poor  to 
possess  a  farm  of  his  own,  had  to  work  that  of  his 
Magyar  overlord.  The  rewards  of  a  farm  laborer 
were  meagre,  the  idle  winters  long,  and  opportunities 
for  betterment  small.  America  became  his  hope; 
here  he  could  better  his  material  condition,  found  a 
home,  and  earn  a  decent  living  for  his  family. 
Although  the  majority  of  the  emigrants  left  their 

81 


country  on  account  of  adverse  economic  reasons, 
there  is  still  another  cause  to  be  considered.  The 
dominant  race,  the  Magyars,  have  always  exercised 
a  narrow  and  belligerent  race  pride.  This  took  active 
form  in  Magyarization.  Our  Slovak  had  a  more  or 
less  conscious  sense  of  feeling  that  he  was  being 
regarded  as  an  inferior,  and  this  made  even  his  own 
country  unattractive  to  him.  In  America  he  would 
be  welcomed  as  one  coming  to  strengthen  and  build 
up. 


82 


CHAPTER  II 

Statistical 

The  year  1873  gives  us  the  first  record  of  any- 
considerable  number  (1,300)  of  Slovaks  coming  to 
America.  The  peak  of  their  immigration  was  in 
1905,  when  52,368  were  admitted.  By  1914,  it  fell 
off  to  25,819.  The  war,  of  course,  caused  an  in- 
terruption until  it  was  again  revived  in  1920,  when 
3,824  came  to  our  shores.  During  the  period  of 
12  years,  1899-1910,  immigration  records  show  that 
377,527  were  admitted.  One  must  be  on  guard  in 
comparing  these  figures  with  those  of  the  Census  of 
1910.  The  discrepancy  arises  out  of  the  fact  that 
the  immigrants  were  migratory.  In  the  Eastern 
States,  their  destination,  they  entered  our  basic 
industries: 

Pennsylvania 195,632 

New  York 48,310 

New  Jersey 35,725 

Ohio 30,785 

Illinois 26,351 

Generally,  the  men  left  their  villages  first  and 
when  they  had  acquired  enough  money  in  America, 
they  returned  for  their  families.  The  majority  of 
them  gave  their  occupation  as  "laborers.'*  They 
did  the  heavy  work  fundamental  to  our  industrial 
life.  They  faced  unflinchingly  the  hot  blasts  of  the 
coke  furnace  and  the  dark  depths  of  the  mines. 

The  census  of  1910  has  ascertained  284,444 
Slovaks  and  their  American  born  children  in  this 
country.     Of  this  total,  166,474  were  foreign  born, 

83 


and  117,970  of  foreign  or  mixed  parentage.  Private 
estimates  have  put  the  figures  higher  than  the 
official  count.  The  Census  authorities  themselves 
admit  that  "enumerators  acted  contrary  to  in- 
structions in  tabulating  the  groups  described  as 
'Slav/  'Slavic/  and  'Slavonian.'  Among  them 
there  are  no  doubt  many  who  should  have  been 
reported  as  Slovak  or  Slovenian."  The  states  having 
the  greatest  number  in  1910  were: 

Pennsylvania 141,657 

Ohio 33,102 

New  Jersey 23,505 

New  York 22,847 

Illinois 20,915 

Connecticut 10,146 

Unlike  many  of  our  foreign  groups,  they  have 
not  concentrated  in  the  large  cities  as  may  be  seen 
from  the  following  table  taken  from  the  Census  of 
1910: 

Chicago 13,093 

Cleveland 12,977 

New  York 10,504 

Bridgeport 6,188 

Pittsburgh 5,096 

One  rather  expects  to  find  them  living  near  the 
place  of  their  occupation,  in  the  towns  of  the  coal 
regions  of  Pennsylvania,  and  along  the  Monongahela 
River,  where  the  steel  mills  are  located. 


84 


CHAPTER  III 

Occupation 

Every  nationality  in  this  country  shows  prefer- 
ence for  certain  occupations  which  for  that  reason 
are  looked  upon  as  the  distinctive  callings  of  certain 
racial  groups.  In  New  York  City,  the  Italians  are 
barbers,  fruit  peddlers  and  cobblers,  the  Cechs 
make  cigars  and  pearl  buttons,  the  Jews  go  in  the 
needle  trade,  the  Greeks  are  florists,  the  Danes  in 
the  Middle  West  engage  in  dairying  and  agriculture. 
What,  if  any,  is  the  distinctive  occupation  of  the 
Slovaks  ^  Large  bodies  of  them  work  in  the  coal 
mines  (anthracite  and  bituminous),  in  the  iron  and 
steel  mills  and  in  various  manufacturing  industries, 
mainly  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  oil  refineries  of  New 
Jersey  (Elizabethport,  Bayonne,  Perth  Amboy),  in 
the  shoe  factories  and  tanneries  and  textile  mills  of 
Massachusetts.  No  metallurgical  industry  in  Cleve- 
land, Pittsburgh,  Bridgeport  and  Gary,  is  without 
its  quota  of  Slovak  labor,  skilled  and  unskilled.  Of 
the  workers  in  the  iron  and  steel  industry  investigated 
by  the  U.  S.  Immigration  Commission  in  1909, 
some  10%  were  Slovaks. 

The  trade  the  Slovaks  favor  most,  with  which 
they  are  thoroughly  familiar  from  home  and  in  which 
they  have  achieved  the  best  results  both  as  workmen 
and  employers,  is  wire  and  tin  manufacture.  From 
this  to  tinsmithing  and  plumbing  is  the  next  step. 
In  New  York  they  operate  about  thirty  shops  where 
they  turn  out  wire  and  tin  household  utensils,  guards 
for  windows,  office  partitions,  chandeliers,  etc. 

85 


Before  1880,  English-speaking  people  made  up 
the  bulk  of  the  workers  in  the  Pennsylvania  coal 
mines.  But  with  startling  suddenness  came  the 
Slav  invasion  of  the  coal  fields  and  the  consequent 
withdrawal  of  the  Irish  and  English  miners.  The 
Slovaks  formed  a  considerable  percentage  of  these 
newcomers;  hardship  is  not  new  to  them,  and  it  will 
be  conceded  that  they  aided  generously  in  the  un- 
precedented development  of  various  industries  which 
took  place  during  the  following  two  decades. 

In  their  motherland  they  were  farmers,  in  their 
adopted  land  they  entered  the  mills  or  the  mines. 
What  is  the  cause  of  this  change  of  occupation  ? 
Perhaps  the  most  important  reason  is  that  they  came 
comparatively,  poor  and  could  not  buy  land  for  farm- 
ing. Their  first  object  was  to  make  enough  money 
to  enable  them  to  bring  their  families  to  America. 
Before  a  farm  will  yield  a  good  return  takes  several 
seasons.  Rather  the  work  in  the  mills  with  fairly 
good  wages  assured.  We  must  remember  that  the 
immigration  is  one  of  recent  date,  and  by  the  time 
the  bulk  had  settled  here  and  saved  a  little  capital, 
land  prices  had  increased  so  as  to  make  purchase 
prohibitive.  There  are  consequently  no  large  settle- 
ments of  farmers  such  as  we  find  among  the  Cechs, 
but  this  does  not  mean  that  Slovaks  do  not  engage 
in  agriculture.  The  Middle  West  is  the  home  of 
many  prosperous  land  tillers  of  Slovak  birth  or 
descent.  Of  the  Eastern  States,  Connecticut.  Two 
interesting  agricultural  communities  were  estab- 
lished by  them.  The  first  is  at  Slovaktown,  Arkansas. 
A  Pittsburgh  colonization  company  influenced  a 
number  of  families  to  leave  the  mining  districts  of 
Pennsylvania  for  the  healthier  work  of  farming — 
and  a  fair  success  has  been  made  of  the  community. 
More  important  is  the  colony  located  near  Peters- 

86 


burg,  Virginia.  This  began  under  similar  circum- 
stances to  that  of  Slovaktown.  Other  Slavs  have 
come  into  the  district  but  the  Slovak  predominates. 
The  principal  products  raised  by  the  latter  com- 
munity are  peanuts  and  tobacco. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  they  have  had 
too  many  bitter  and  costly  experiences  in  the  past 
with  private  bankers  and  business  promoters  and 
speculators,  the  Slovaks  are  highly  enterprising. 
Believing  in  co-operative  effort,  their  nationals 
have  established  factories  (a  plant  or  two  for  the 
manufacture  of  rubber  goods  being  among  them), 
and  some  of  these  are  said  to  be  doing  well. 
Several  banks  in  Slovakia  were  able  lately  to  re- 
finance themselves  through  capital  stock  subscribed 
by  American  Slovaks.  American  capital  it  was 
(Michael  Bosak,  of  Scranton,  Pa.,  and  associates), 
that  laid  solid  foundations  to  the  American  Slovak 
Bank  at  Bratislava  (Pressburg),  one  of  the  biggest 
financial  institutions  in  Slovakia. 


87 


CHAPTER  IV 

Fraternal  Organizations  and  Churches 

Their  social  life  is  much  the  same  as  that  of  the 
Cechs.  They  have  their  Sokol,  singing  and  amateur 
theatrical  societies.  The  membership  in  fraternal 
organizations  which  pay  sick  and  death  benefits, 
200,000,  is  astonishingly  large.  But  one  should  bear 
in  mind  that  the  work  in  the  mines  and  the  mills  is 
hazardous,  the  toll  of  death  and  bodily  injury  in 
them,  heavy.  And  these  benevolent  societies  take 
the  place  of  life  insurance  companies.  The  death 
benefits  they  pay — $500,  or  $1,000 — is  often  the  sole 
reliance  and  support  of  the  wife  or  the  children  of 
the  insured. 
The    First    Catholic    Slovak   Union 

(I.  Katolick^SlovenskdJednota). 49,680  members 
The  National  Slovak  Society   (Nd- 

rodny  Slovensky  Spolok) 39,118  members 

The  Catholic  Slovak  Women  Union 

(Katolickd      Slovenskd      lenskk 

Jednota) 28,264  members 

The  Gymnastic  Slovak  Union  Sokol 

(TSlocviCnd    Slovensky    Jednota 

Sokol) 14,381  members 

The    Roman    and    Greek    Catholic 

Gymnastic  Slovak  Union   Sokol 

(Rimsko    a     Grecko     Katolickd 

Slovenskd  Jednota  Sokol) 19,450  members 

The      Slovak      Evangelical      Union 

(Evangelickd  Slovenskd  Jednota)  7,821  members 


The    Slovak    Evangelical    Women 

Union     (SlovenskA    Evangelickd 

itnskk  Jednota) 3,328  members 

The   2ivena   (The  National   Slovak 

Women  Union) 8,300  members 

The  Pennsylvania  Roman  and  Greek 

Catholic    Slovak    Union    (Penn- 

sylvansk4  Rimsko  a  Grecko  Ka- 

tolicki  Slovenskd  Jednota) 21,612  members 

The  Pennsylvania  Roman  and  Greek 

Catholic   Slovak  Women   Union 

(Pennsylvanskd  Rimsko  a  Grecko 

Katolicka  2enskd  Jednota) 12,771  members 

The   Independent   National   Slovak 

Society  (Neodvisly  Narodny  Slo- 

vensky  Spolok) 1,186  members 

The  First  Slovak  Wreath  of  the  Free 

Eagle  in  the  U.  S.  of  A.  (I.  Slo- 

vensk^  Venec   Slobodn^ho   Orla 

V  S.  S.  A.) 6,330  members 

Total  membership  212,241. 

The  National  Slovak  Society  of  the  U.  S.  of  A., 
is  the  most  influential,  though  not  the  strongest  of 
the  fraternal  bodies.  Organized  in  1890,  it  has 
39,118  members  in  562  assemblies.  Its  past 
record  is  very  honorable.  Besides  giving  many 
volunteers  to  the  Army,  it  invested  a  substantial 
sum  in  Liberty  Bonds  ($460,000),  and  furthered  war 
activities.  Its  contribution  to  the  Czechoslovak 
movement  for  independence  was  no  less  generous. 

The  Gymnastic  Slovak  Union  Sokol  dates  to 
1894.  The  membership  is  14,381.  The  Sokols  are 
a  potent  factor  for  the  uplift  of  the  immigrant,  in- 
asmuch as  they  aim  to  make  a  better  citizen  of  him 
not  only  physically,  but  also  culturally.  The  best 
equipped  Sokol  halls  are  at  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  New 

89 


Kensington,  Homestead  and  Ford  City,  all  in  Penn- 
sylvania. Besides  gymnastics,  much  attention  is 
given  to  choral  singing  and  to  dramatics.  Most  of  the 
Slovak  fighting  men  in  American  and  Czechoslovak 
Armies  were  recruited  from  the  Sokol  organizations. 

Established  in  1911,  by  the  Rev.  Stephen  Furdek 
the  First  Catholic  Slovak  Union  is  numerically  the 
strongest  organization.  It  publishes  a  paper  ("Jed- 
nota"),  of  which  33,000  copies  are  printed.  The 
orphan  asylum  at  Middletown,  Pa.,  is  one  of  the 
institutions  founded  and  supported  by  it. 

The  Slovak  Evangelical  Union  was  established 
1893.  It  has  7,821  members  in  199  assemblies  dis- 
tributed, according  to  States,  as  follows:  Pennsyl- 
vania, 97;  Ohio,  31;  Illinois,  11;  New  York,  14;  New 
Jersey,  8;  Connecticut,  5;  Michigan,  5;  Indiana,  5; 
Missouri,  4;  Montana,  3;  Minnesota,  3;  Wisconsin, 
3;  Iowa,  3;  West  Virginia,  2;  Washington,  2;  Massa- 
chusetts, 1;  California,  1;  Canada,  1.  The  Young 
Folks*  Slovak  Evangelical  Union  has  3,309  members. 

The  Slovak  Evangelical  Women's  Union  has 
3,328  members  in  76  assemblies. 

The  Roman  Catholics  have  176  churches.  Dis- 
tribution according  to  states  is  as  follows:  Penn- 
sylvania, 103;  Ohio,  16;  New  Jersey,  11;  Illinois, 
10;  New  York,  9;  Wisconsin,  5;  Connecticut,  4; 
Indiana,  4;  and  2  each  in  Minnesota,  Montana, 
Missouri  and  Massachusetts,  1  each  in  Maine, 
Michigan,  Kansas,  West  Virginia,  Colorado  and 
Alabama. 

The  Protestants  of  the  Augsburg  Confession 
have  16  in  Pennsylvania;  Ohio,  11;  Illinois,  8;  Con- 
necticut, 8;  New  York,  7;  Wisconsin,  7;  New  Jersey, 
3;  Missouri,  3;  Virginia,  3;  Iowa,  2;  Indiana,  2;  Min- 
nesota, 2;  and  Texas,  Michigan  and  Massachusetts 
1  in  each.      Other  Protestant  churches  number  30. 

90 


CHAPTER  V 

The  Press 

That  culturally  the  American  Slovak  stands  on  a 
higher  plane  than  his  brother  at  home  is,  we  believe, 
generally  admitted.  American  environment,  better 
economic  conditions,  are  mainly  responsible  for 
bringing  about  this  happy  result.  As  an  educator, 
the  newspaper  has  aided  greatly. 

Dailies 

New  Yorsky  Dennik  (The  New  York  Daily), 
New  York. 

Dennik  Slovaka  v  Amerike  (The  Slovak  in 
America  Daily),  New  York. 

Denny  Hlas  (The  Daily  Voice),  Cleveland. 

Ndrodny  Dennik  (The  National  Daily),  Pitts- 
burgh. 

Weeklies  and  Fraternal  Organs 

Narodne  Noviny  (The  National  Slovak  News), 
Pittsburgh. 

Slovenska  Mlade2  (The  Slovak  Youth),  Pitts- 
burgh. 

Nove  Slovensko  (The  New  Slovakia),  Pittsburgh. 

Slovensky  Hlasnik  (The  Slovak  Herald),  Pitts- 
burgh. 

Obrana  (The  Defense),  Scranton. 

Youngstownske  Slovenske  Noviny  (The  Youngs- 
town  Slovak  News),  Youngs  town. 

Jednota  (The  Union),  Middletown,  Pa. 

2enska  Jednota  (The  Women's  Union),  Middle- 
to  v\n,  Pa. 

91 


Bratstvo  (The  Brotherhood),  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa. 
Slovensk^    Sokol    (The    Slovak    Sokol),    Perth 
Amboy,  N.  J. 

Katolick^  Sokol  (The  Catholic  Sokol),  Passaic, 

Nov6  Casy  (The  New  Times),  Chicago. 

Studentsk6  Listy  (The  Students'  Gazette),  Lisle, 
111. 

Amerik^nsko  Slovensk^  Noviny  (The  American 
Slovak  News),  Pittsburgh. 

Slovensk^  Pokrok  (The  Slovak  Progress),  New 
York. 

Priatel  Dietek  (The  Young  Folks'  Friend),  Pas- 
saic, N.  J. 

Telegram,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Rovnost  Ludu  (The  Equality  of  the  People), 
Chicago. 


92 


CHAPTER  VI 

The  Banks 

Nine  years  ago  the  first  bank  was  established. 
Today  the  Slovaks  control  nine  strong  and  prosper- 
ous money  institutions,  seven  of  which  do  business  in 
Pennsylvania.  Foremost  among  Slovak  bankers  is 
Michael  Bos4k  of  Scranton,  who  is  a  heavy  stock- 
holder in  several  of  them. 

Surplus  and 
Or-       Paid  up     Undivided 
ganized     Capital        Profits         Deposits 

Bosak  State  Bank,  Scranton, 

Pa 1915    $200,000    $332,183    $4,416,517 

Slavonic       Deposit       Bank, 

Wilkes-Barre,  Pa 1912       100,000       143,640      2,202,482 

Slovak  State   Bank,   Union- 
town,  Pa 1918       100,000        35,877         600,723 

American    Bank    and    Trust 

Co.,  Hazelton,  Pa 200,000      139,053      2,500,000 

The  American  State   Bank, 

Pittsburgh,  Pa 1921      200,000        52,147         342,000 

The    First    National    Bank, 

Olyphant,  Pa 250,000      246,090       1,700,000 

Reading    Liberty    Bank,    Read- 
ing, Pa 1919      100,000        20,317         839,291 

Papanek-Kovac  Bank, 
Chicago,  111 1920 

American  Trust  and  Savings 

Bank,  Whiting,  Ind 1920         50,000  4,000  150,000 


93 


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